Hollywood has few dramas to match the life of Oscar-winning film-maker Roman Polanski, detained in Switzerland on a 31-year arrest warrant for rape.

Roman Polanski was detained as he traveled to the Zurich film festival.

Polanski's mother died in a concentration camp. He spent several years homeless in 1940s and 1950s Europe. When he received critical acclaim in the 1960s for his early features, Hollywood beckoned. He married actress Sharon Tate – who was then butchered by the infamous Manson family in 1969. He fled to Europe after he pleaded guilty in 1977 to the rape of a 13-year old girl.

Last week Polanski's past caught up with him within the space of a few days. Susan Atkins, who murdered Tate, died in a California prison from brain cancer. The next day Polanski was detained after being served with an extradition warrant by Swiss authorities.

There is clearly sympathy with Polanski from several quarters. Many, including Polanski himself, allege the judge in the original case, who has since died, reneged on a plea bargain. Has Polanski not suffered enough, his defenders argue, both in his personal life and with his absence from Hollywood?

Amid the pleas and mitigation remain several facts. That Polanski pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl. That he fled before sentencing. And that the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office is still interested enough to spend time and money, three decades later, to have him returned to California.

Would the interests of justice be served by Polanski being returned to the United States? Or should he be allowed to go free? Tell us what you think and we will use some of your comments in the show.

soundoff(434 Responses)

Kevin Baker

He should be held accountable for his actions. Regardless if he is an award winning producer with millions. He plead guilty and then fled. Doesn't that call from some additional sentencing for evasion?

Irrespective of my personal opinion on the case, I'm shocked by the writer's claim that "...the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office is still interested enough to spend time and money, three decades later, to have him returned to California." The writer is clearly leading the reader in one direction and goes against the journalistic rule of unbiased reporting.

He is accused of having sex with a very young minor. The statute of limitations has not run out. His celebrity status should not change the fact that a proper investigation and trial need to determine either his guilt or his innocence. If he is innocent, he has nothing to fear but inconvenience. If he is guilty, then he should be punished regardless of his accomplishments.

Switzerland should NEVER have given in to pressure from the US to arrest a highly acclaimed film director only because some former British territories (which, after all, have been independent only for about 233 years, while it takes at least 500 years for any country to build a decent culture !!!) have some crazy laws about sexuality.

Europeans will have a hard time to understand why this same country allows for the legal acquisition of weapons - and thus maintains everyday criminality to the level of third-world countries –, whereas the little bit of sex by its former president with some stupid girl in the Oral (sorry: Oval) Office caused such an uproar!

Maybe Americans should first correct their misconceptions about human sexuality before imposing their antiquated law system upon other countries - which have already enjoyed a flourishing legal culture when Nothern America was still home to roaming tribes of analphabets.

The victim herself, now a grown woman, says she wants the case dropped and that she now feels she is a victim of the LA District Attorney for dragging this out. She reached a settlement with Polanski a long time ago.

That, plus the fact that the judge reneged on the plea bargain deal, should raise enough doubt to say drop the whole thing after all this time.

This man sodomised a 13 year old girl and admitted it yet has never paid for his crime. in the intervening time he has made millions from having his film finanaced and distrubuted and has been rewarded with countless awards.

Michael Jackson went to his death having had the courage to fight 2 similar cases and be found not guilty in each. Yet people chose to condemn him regardless. Polanski admitted what he but people are literally going out of their way to exonerate him, even after they've lauded him for decades.

What the hell is this even being debated for? The girl he raped and sodomised is now a middle aged woman and either doesn't want to relieve the period or was so infatuated with him that she doesn't want to see him get into trouble for raping her. Perhaps it should be made legal as long as all 13 year old girls 'consent' to being sodomised....?

Are these defenders suggesting that sexual offender could not even hide, but live openly in another country for 30 years and then be forgiven? But I guess this applies just to some riches with friends in government. If Polanski is released, that is a good message to pedophiles – got caught, make some movie – French culture minister will protect you.

As much as I loath the thought of statutory rape, now that the victim is very well an adult (31 years of age), if she's against pursuing this (which she most definitely is), then it should be dropped and dropped quickly..

i have to say that i am ashamed to be swiss. because the swiss have proven as inflexible as the americans! what is wrong with these people after more that 30 years? one side to maintain the warrant, the other for reinforcing it!

Leave the guy alone! The victim is opposed. Each time this is bandied about she is forced to confront what she has indicated she has come to terms with. This whole thing is just too coincidental with the death of Susan Atkins.
Total waste of money.

No victim, no crime.
After all of these years, only Samantha Geimer should decide if legal action applies. No justice will be served if legal action is taken against her wishes. No example needs to be made. No rubber stamp justice please. Had he returned to the United States then maybe, but to hound him to the ends of the earth, why? Who asked you to? The “victim” apparently not. Shouldn't we be spending our time and resources on real threats?

The situation is very simple. We are all supposed to be equals in front of the law. Mister Polanksi should be presented to the judge. But at the same time he desserve a fair trial with an impartial judge.
If Mr. Polanski have been granted pardon by the alledged victim he should still be presented to court as this is an issue of public order.

If everyone would start using the words "convicted pedophile" in place of "Oscar-winning director" it might be a more accurate writing of the story. If someone did the same today and fled to country to avoid imprisonment, there would be a huge public outcry. If Polanski had been in prison for pedophilia then, maybe his "career" would have been a whole different issue. Extradite him, and apply a proper prison sentence. Anything less continues to paint the very clear picture of more than one law in America - one for those with money and prestige and a totally different application of law for those without.

Hello,
He broke the law, and this should not be forgotten, whether he is a famous director or not. Ask yourself this: would it been any other "ordinary" man instead of him, would we be even questioning if he should be extradited or not?
He did the crime, he admitted it, and he'd been on the run since. It took a long time, but eventually his past caugth up with him. If the victim would be my dother, I sure would like to see him in front of justice.

It is about time that he is arrested. Why should he be forgiven for raping a 13 year old girl just because he is famous. His difficult background is no excuse to what he has done. He should pay the consequences for his actions. If it was an unknown person who raped a 13 year old girl noone would contest his arrest. What kind of world is this if someone with power, status or fame is excused from a rape charge!

First of all, Roman had set himself a bad example to foreign citizens living in the US by drugging and raping a 13-year-old, and left the United States to avoid charges. He must clean up the mess he had made years ago, regardless of the fame that he has acheived.

To let him get away with it guarantees a troubling future for the US justice system. More and more law-breaking celebrities would get away with it and would-be criminials will do likewise. That will make the US a less safer place to live. The system is there to protect citizens from those who break the law, and bring those lawbreakers to justice.

Best for Roman to come back to the US and solve the case. I do not think he should serve time in jail. Samantha has waited too long, and she should drop the charges against him. I wonder, why now?

I believe that the district attorney of Los Angeles County need to play a role in Roman Polanski's case and come up with a recommendation and plan. If I were the attorney, I'd require that Roman spend a few community hours to run an awareness workshop for celebrities who got in trouble with law.

On a personal note, I would not like to watch a movie made by a director who has raped a 13-year-old girl.

Sure he screwed up but for heavens sake – move on. What! are you going to stick him in gaol on our budget (and at his age it will be for life) just like Madoff (he got 150 years – the judicial system are really making fools of themselves)? The system is totally screwed up. The monster called western society is out of control since it left Biblical ideologies and standards and cannot make any reasonable rational judgements.

I say, let him free. The victim herself doesn't want any part of this. She settled with Polanski ages ago. The CA DA's office seem to be willing to spend taxpayer's money on THIS case? 3 decades old. Isn't our state bankrupt right now?

The biggest loser from all this will be the poor victim. Do you think she likes all this spotlight for this type of thing after 3 decades? Clearly not.
Some bigshot in the DA's office wants publicity, thats what I think I anyways.

No, he should not.
US shuld be ashamed of this act. He is a great person and paid his dues already. Why now, after so many years?
This is some kind of a trade between Switzerland and USA referring to the banking secrets the Swiss do not want to reveal. If so why don't they trade among Swiss and American citizens?

1. Whether the victim forgives him or not is beside the point. The victim was a minor; its like saying that its alright for a father to rape his daughter so long as she forgive him.

2. Everyone is equal before the laws of the land. Does not matter what the European system is. He committed the crime in the USA, he will be tried for that. He also jumped bail, so that's another count. If he did this in Iran, all that would remain of him would be pieces here and there.

3. The fact that he could get away for 31 years, still making movies in European countries adds insult to injury. Shame to all Europeans who turned a blind eye to the rape of a young child by this scumbag. And shame to all who would speak up for him because he is 'talented' and that this happened long ago. Shame, shame, shame! Then again, since Bill Clinton, we have entered into a shameless era.

It's a shame it hasn't happened sooner but I believe it's a good thing.
People deserve second chances only when they've payed for their crimes, Hollywood is no exception. Let's not get carried by our emotions here, it's the justice system we're talking about, this isn't "Oprah".

The victim, Samantha Geimer, has plenty of legal reason to file a multi million dollar law suit against the state of California for harassment and messing up with her life. Let us all encourage her to do so.

Innocent people don't typically plea bargain. And guilty people often flee. Mr. Polanski is a coward who ran away from the consequences of his crime. What kind of person secretly druggs a young girl in order to have sex with her.

Wasn't there an Interpol arrest warrant for Mr. Polanski? Someone should ask the the French why they have been protecting him all these years. Bravo to the LAPD for never forgetting and to Switzerland for apprehending this child molester.

Yes, Mr. Polanski is very talented and knows many powerful people. But none of this is relevant. I for one do not want to live in a world with a different set of laws for the rich or talented. I hope this child-molester rots in jail for the remaining years of his life. And Mr. Weinstein should be ashamed: would he feel the same way if it was his 13-year-old daughter who was drugged and raped by Mr. Polanski?

Once the victim declared it over and announced she did doesn’t want to pursue criminal charges, the government should have dropped them. This is a prime example of the government meddling in private lives. The state of California is broke and this jackass lawyer wants to waste even more money, which will do nothing for the state or the "victim"

I'm amazed that France has no extradition treaty with the US! ...but Switzerland does? Most strange.
Look, the victim's wishes are clear, let Polanski go rather than stand trial. What should be on trial is the US justice system and its anomalies and its relevance today.

I think Mr. Polanski should face his fears and face the LA court. In the court are wise judges that will come to a well thought conclusion. Mr. Polanski is not a threat to society, he is already an older citizen and I think that the sentence will be milder than everybody thinks. Then he and the victim can go on with their lifes. I think it is very important that a famous artist like him will not get any other treatment than the average Joe. Nobody is above the law, not even Mr. Polanski. This comment comes from one of his greatest fans.

I believe a crime should never be left unpunished, however in this case, I find it odd the authorities waited all these years to do something about it.... and the girl now a 44 year old woman says she does not want to pursue this so what do they want from this? I find even more odd some details about the case. Yes the girl was 13 and Roman should NEVER have done what he did EVEN if she was ok with it. The fact is this girl was dating a 17 year old boy, wasnt a virgin anymore even though she was only 13, started spending time with Roman for weeks while he took pictures of her naked before the night of the "rape" and her family knew she was spending time with a 40 year old man. But because he was famous and her mother was also struggling in the acting business that made it ok? I think Roman should go on trial yes, he had sex with a minor, but all these details should be checked and taken into consideration on the veridict.

I’m shocked by the writer’s claim that “…the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office is still interested enough to spend time and money, three decades later, to have him returned to California.” The writer is clearly leading the reader in one direction and goes against the journalistic rule of unbiased reporting.

He had sex with minor. That is wrong. He is a great director. That's immaterial. This is a 30 Year old case. Thats absurd. He has already settled. Thats Important. Why the heck do we think that our judicial system is the only way to evaluate and punish so called "Crimes"? wake up people

He should be extradicted simple and pronto. Had this offence been committed by a nameless person, shouldn't the person face the law? Instead he ran away.
He should be guaranteed a fair second trail. If found guilty, he should face the law or else be released.
I believe if it were the daughter of the French minister that is defending him is the victim, the minister would be singing another song.

All the other paedophiles will have 'decent' excuses as well if he gets away with this. What about Garry Gliter is he ok also?
If he really is guilty it would be crazy not to lock him up and throw away the key.
Sexually abusing children should be punished (if you think about it sanely).

So if I understand correctly, if somebody has a tough past, hard life, his crimes towards other people should be overlooked?
Is this the message? I had a bad day, I can do now everything I want, disregarding the law and other people?

Crimes against other people, especially so vicous as is premeditated rape of the minor, should never become to old, and as a message to any future 'would be' rapists, he must be centenced and disgraced.

Hey, Alex, HE HAS ALREADY PAID FOR IT! What many seem to forget, is that he had already served his sentence 30 years ago. The judge then reneged on the plea bargain he had originally accepted and wanted to arbitrarily impose an additional stretch of prison time... Since the US legal system is just as slow and corrupt as any other in the world, good of Mr. Polanski to hightail out of there while he could rather than wait a decade for his case to be finally over.

Considering that even the only victim is against further punishment, I don't see why he should be arrested in the first place, let alone extradited. In this case the victim is now an adult who is sound of mind, and the perpetrator has never committed another crime in over 30 years. If this guy's name hadn't been Roman Polanski, no one would have issued any arrest order for him decades later.

I'd be curious to know what Switzerland gets from the US in return: a closed eye on some not-so-clean money transactions?

Polanski made a plea bargain which the judge reneged on. He spent 42 days in jail, even though the plea was supposed to lead to probation and spare a trial for Samantha Geimer. Polanski left the US because of a failure of the US justice system, not because he was evading justice. Free Polanski and let Geimer get on with her life.

No country should comply with extradition requests when the potential sentence is cruel or unusually harsh.

Is 20 years in prison reasonable for Roman Polanski? I say no, regardless who it is, unless we're talking about a hard-core, repeat offender. I would think that at the most, this is a case of statutory rape and should, reasonably, not lead to a sentence of more than a year or two.

The US has more prisoners than China, Russia and Cuba combined (fact). It is a violent and sexual – yet hypocritically prudish – society.

I have know girls in California who were minors but could easily have passed for 25. California liquor laws require that bartenders check everyone's ID who may be under legal age. Is this also a requirement for having sex?

At one point in time, the state of Texas sentenced pot smokers in possession of only one joint to life in prison, yet there is a constitutional guarantee against cruel and unusual punishment. The Supreme Court doesn't consider a life sentence in prison to be either cruel or unusual for such a petty offense.

It is puzzling why they waited so long to chase him?! 31 years of probable psychological pain over it ... Since the lady decided to want to drop the charges and also because of the circumstances of his life was a bit miserable then ..... I would favor an oral publicized apology by him and perhaps some compensation to the lady who has gone through a trauma herself might be better for all concerned at this stage. Then, drop the charges.

Whether it was rape is questionable. The whole way of handling this case from the beginning is questionable. The only sure thing is that he had sex with a minor and that he settled with her outside of court and that SHE – the victim- after all this time wants this case to be dropped. I think that the victim's wish should be complied with.

Let him go. It was a long time ago and the victim just wants to move on. Extraditing and prosecuting him will only cause additional pain to his victim who would prefer just to move on with her life as she has done for several decades now.

Sara I Don't know about the USA but in UK sexually abusing children is taken very seriously. People have no respect or admiration for paedophiles so I from my point of view can't see how he paid for it already unless something has seriously gone wrong. I would be ashamed stand up for a paedophile.

The fact this case is already 30 yrs old and the victim has already settled this with Polanski, these would be special conditions that should affect any trial. However, the American judicial system doesn't seem to be this forgiving, given its actions.

Polanski admitted drugging then having sex with a minor. Some readers above do not have a problem with a grown man having sex with a "mature" 13-year-old. Mr. Polanski is guilty of far more. The young girl was drugged without her knowledge. And then raped. If you have any doubts, check the original records.

When the victim gave statements to investigators 30 years ago prosectuors determined they had enough evidence to go to trial. Why would prosecutors waste their time if was just a misunderstanding about "age"? Who filed the complaint with the police?

In a 2003 interview, she tells a story which follows the classic dathe traumatic eeffect of this crime:
"I just didn't know how to get myself out of there... I said...No, I don’t want to do this. No!"

For some reason today, she does not want Mr. Polanski to be prosecuted. But it does not make Polanski any more or any less guilty.

The US justice system is far from perfect. But in this case we have a crime - drugging then raping - and perpertruator who thinks he is above the law. Bring him back to face the crime he

Yes, he should be held accountable. He admitted guilt and then ran; he a fugitive and I don't care what happen in his past.

Olga, I don’t know where you’re from but in the US, people get a little pissed off when someone rapes and 13year old child admits guilt and then runs like a dog.
Europeans will have a hard time to understand a lot of things, since England took away the guns from their law abiding citizen look how the crime rate when up, what was one of the first thing Hitler did “gun control” we all know where that went.

She was 13 going to 25 or looking like a 25 by then. I don't think he knew she was under age because a 13 year girl in the US can easily look older. She is now 45 and is sick of this case and is asking it to be dropped. In my opinion it is an over hyped case that should be settle without him going to jail. Should white Americans be prosecuted for raping underage black girls during slavery? Come on! move on!!

To the inflexible "justice for all americans:
The late Ted Keneddy was involved in the DEATH of a teenage girl in a car accident and then fled the scene. He was probably drunk. For this he received a slap on the wrists -a 2 month sentence. Then he went on to become perhaps the most respected and celebrated senator in the US history. Not undersevedly.
Polanski? First he has a foreign sounding name, second he was born in France, third, he commited a sex crime which in the hypocritically religious US is a "no-no".
Double standards exist everywhere, even in the land of the free!

He should be held accountable for his actions, regardless of his status in life. He took it upon himself to commit a crime, then flee the country. He should serve out whatever jail term passed down, just as every other "convicted pedophile" does in this country. Is there some additional sentencing for flight to evade prosecution? We will see how the "scales of justice" prevails.

Ern Wap,
The victim does not get to decide when to prosecute and what a crime is. That is why we have laws. In a system like you suggest very few wealthy people would be prosecuted as they could make a financial arrangement with the victim to have the victim reconsider.

The facts are quite clear in this case.
1. He pleaded guilty
2. He fled the country before being sentenced

Anyone in hollywood who is trying to use their influence to get him released should be ashamed of themselfs.

The rule of law must always prevail, this is not only about him it's about the kiddy fidlers who may not assault a child tonight for fear of the long arm of the lay catching them in later life. The Victim in this case is a winderful person who has moved on, please allw this to be about those who are unable to move on who remain forever victims.

Jail him and send out a clear message under age sex is illegal – perhaps it's normal or acceptable in France though as they seem to want to protect him ?

He pleaded guilty along time ago, and instaed of doing the time. He fled because he was scared that he would be assaulted in jail. Because prisoners consider these people on the low end. YES this person still needs to do the time and than some for fleeing like that. This person no matter how wealthy or talented they are still needs to do the time. IF THIS PERSON GETS OFF FOR THIS THAN IT SHOWS THE WORLD THAT IF YOU HAVE MONEY YOU WILL GET AWAY FROM YOUR CRIME.

Those yelling "He broke the law!" would do well to remember that the law exists to serve the people, not the other way around. At this point the only ones who can possibly gain by pursuing this are the Los Angeles DA trying to be the next Vincent Bugliosi, and all the slobbering legal pseudo-news programs who want to cover every lurid minute of the trial for their voyeuristic viewers. The only person who was hurt by this crime is over it and says that the continued attention is ruining her life. Stop being a bunch of puritanical hypocrites and let it go.

I believe that according to U.S. laws, what the victim THINKS about the need to continue/discontinue investigation, is irrelevant – the statute of limitations has not expired, and just by the victim`s claim the case can not be closed.

Again, for those people who think he went free, HE DID NOT GO FREE, HE HAS ALREADY SERVED PRISON TIME for the crime as originally agreed between prosecution and defense, and he HAS PAID COMPENSATION to the victim as well. In 30 years, he has committed no other offense, so obviously, he's not a danger to anyone else.

Lengthy prison sentences are usually reserved for real pedophiles, not people who think they're having sex with a 20 years old and then find out she was a minor afterwards. Being someone who was often mistaken for a 20-plus years old when I was 12, I have no problems believing that. I have used this fact to my advantage more than once.

Look up the definition of pedophile. That goes especially for UK people, since "paediatricians" there have had their offices defiled because people mistook them for child molesters. A person who commits a sexual act with a minor while being led to believe the person is an adult may be guilty of rape if the act isn't consensual, but is not a pedophile.

I have to say that the posts reflect what i would call the American disease: addiction to punishment...it's time to move on. he pled guilty, the judge was out to make a career for himself and the prosecution was tainted. who wouldn't flee?

If he wasn't famous, would they even bother to go after him in a foreign country? Other there are similar cases where the accused is not famous? If the victim is not pressing charges, why is she being subjected to all this press. No @ Andre, Michael Jackson paid Jordan Chandler to drop the case, he was not aquitted. And finally, why is everyone acting so moralistic? Your attitudes were no different with Clinton when it two consenting adults. Strange for a country who seems to have forgotten Loretta Lynn was 13 when she got married and had four children by the time she was 17...

Olg from Vaduz: Are you saying that drugging, raping and sodomizing a thriteen year old is acceptable sexual behaviour "crazy (American) laws on sexuality"? You stereotype American & European behaviour, history and legal systems. Quite frankly, your ignorance is astounding, and your comment is particularly odious.

Considering the rest of the world is currently clamping down on sexual-based violence, from pedophilia tourism to rape during conflict, why is there such an outcry in defence of someone who has admitted to the crime (albeit to the lesser charge of "unlawful sex" - as opposed to "rape ++" as the victim then testified to in court), and then ran away before he got the lesser sentence? Without the plea bargain he would have been sentenced to life! A non-celebrity would not have enjoyed the last thirty years of luxurious freedom...

Of course he should be. I can't believe all the celebrities and heads of state asking for him to be freed, that he suffered enough, etc.. somehow I think that if he drugged and rapped their 13 yo daughter they might not have the same attitude. I don't care that it's been over 30 years. Because of his actions he ruined the life of his victim, maybe she did forgive him but her life was messed up because of him.

OMG is there nothing more pressing than this case in California? No debt to worry about? I agree with most that if guilty then time should be served BUT that should have been done 30 years ago. Even the victim wants to see him free and move on. The fact that this is happening in 2009 and not 1979 proves once again, like the MJ case, that D.A's want to be known more as celebrities than lawyers. It's time for someone in the LA attorney's office to clean house and get rid of these lawyers who are only looking to make $$ selling their books about these cases when they're done.

The difficulty here is that the man and his artistic creations are too connected in our minds when we judge these events. How many geniuses are there who have contributed to the benefit of humanity but are monsters in their personal lives? I am grateful to live in a society/country that tries to uphold just laws that are blind to money, status, or fame. Condemn the man, but not the artist's work.

It is interesting and a bit disturbing to see the divide, for the most part, between European and US opinion. Many on the European side say it's a long time ago, let it go; or look how much he suffered in other ways; etc. And many on the US side say the law is law. Hard as it may be say this, the latter is right. Yes it was a long time ago – but how can a crime without a statute of limitation be let go? Yes the girl does not want to prosecute; but this is a criminal offence, not a civil one, and this is not Sharia law where a victim can waive charges. And yes he has suffered, greatly, but that cannot undo this action. Finally, and most importantly, the judge and prosecutor acted wildly inappropiately, so much so that the judge, if he were alive, would face a probe.

But all that only can be considered by a court, not TV or a blog, or even a US president – until he has heard the verdict of the law. A crime occured and, in a society based on law (all of ours are, folks), the law must be allowed to give its final answer, not ministers of other countries who like his movies. If Polanski were found guilty by that biased judge, he would appeal to a higher court. The US legal system contains flawed individuals, but a pretty robust process. He would have gotten a fair trail and sentence, but he ran. And even when, years later, with enough negotiations done that he could probably have gotten community service or some months in jail, he still refused to appear before the court to argue his case, he could not put the importance of law above his worries about the outcome, and thus prevented the law from having a final say. To even acquit him. The way for it to be over after all these years is for him to do like every other person in America has to – face justice. We can't all run overseas when we have trouble and say we'll only come back if first the verdict is innocent; we'd be told come back and prove it or you'll be found guilty in abstentia. He must come back.

And then, I hope he is set free.

Alex- I disagree with your concern of bias; the writer was not implying incredulity as to why, after three decades, they even bothering; in the full context of the sentence, he is saying before we brush this away as a lot of minor forgotten unpleasantness, let's understand that it is still serious enough to warrant the government's effort.

Let me ask a question to some of the comments made about leniency due to the victim forgiving the crime. Do you believe a justice system should act in part solely for each victim or do you believe the justice system should act for all victims in the overall crime as contingent to a deterrent of that crime? Could the justice system account for a fair reparation of damages for each victim of rape by paying our a settlement similar to what Mr. Polanski paid to his victim? That could be a lot of money to the average tax payer and it would very likely start a precedent for a new burden of crime where one pretends to be a victim of rape in order to receive a large payout by the justice system.

Let's not forget the victim in this case...according to a previous CNN article, while she suffered as a child as a result of this hideous event, she is pleading to the District Attorney NOT to go through with the proceedings. Why? Because each time this story is played out in the media, she and her family continue to be dragged into the spotlight. Would you want your name and what is probably the most awful event of your life displayed all over television and media 30 years AFTER the event?

She didn't have control then and depsite being a survivor, she doesn't seem to have control now! Give her the choice, give her the control.

Should there be two sets of rules..? Of course not.
As for the french (sic), well.. their still being french.
"Astonished" is the word some 'cultural' genius used.
Astonishing is what comes to mind. Do they think child rape is OK.. forgiveable because he makes good movies. Its difficult to understand Polanski's supporters reasoning, there is none.
Oh well.

The facts appear to be that he got her drunk, gave her a Quaalude when she became anxious at his advances in a hot tub, and then forced himself on her, at her age of 13. She attempted to resist but could not. He performed various sexual acts on her, standard and otherwise.

So there's not even a question of consent, informed or not. If she had proclaimed all along that it was a treasured memory and that she had been all for it, things would be blurrier, and the possibility that this is the usual dull-witted American prudery rearing its cheesy head would need exploring.

As it stands however, this smells like cheesy Europeans with consumption-oriented sexual fantasies of deflowering innocents and making everything a little shopworn and overripe, by virtue of domination, living out those fantasies. Folks like that should be put in a cage, naked, in the public square (another old European tradition, replying in kind in this case). Unfortunately, that seems to apply to Polanski.

Of course he should be extradited. If he weren't famous it wouldn't even be a discussion. If Mr. Polanski wanted to avoid this public embarrasement he should have sought out a legal resolution to this case decades ago. Instead, he fled the country. He should be extradited just for that. The fact that he is living as a fugitive of the court should be enough for any person to want to resolve the issue. What did Polanski expect?

Polanski commited a crime and he should pay his dues.... not be hailed as a hero..... he very well knew what would happen when i flew to Switzerland..... Bring him back to the US and let him stand trail...he should have thought about it when he raped a 13 year old girl... once a sicko like that.... always.... I belive we call it pediofile...

Polanski's victim wants the case thrown out, many in the movie industry are supporting him and there are probably millions of other people also saying let it end. If the victim wanted Polanski hauled before the courts and sentenced, then that would be a different matter and justice should be served. But this is not the case, the victim wants the whole sordid matter forgotten. She wants all those concerned – including Polanski – to get on with his or her life. Let's not drag him back to the States like a common criminal, give the man his freedom.

I am tired of the US exercising it's long arm of the law around the world.

If Spain were asking for an extradition, I might be more sympathetic but the US is the prison capital of the universe. It's time they find other ways to reduce crime – like trying to develop a real civilization.

Geeze, everyone has commited a crime (of sorts) at least once in their life. If the average American born-againers had it their way, anyone who isn't a right-winged zealot would be in jail for life. Three strikes and you're the Anti-Christ!

I believe that the accussed in this case is NOT a regular man, because he has had terrible things happening to him since childhood in Ashwitz. Her mother, who didn´t survive this concentration camp and the hineous murder of his beloved pregnant wife. This is a man whose suffering has obviously affected his mind.
He should be extradited because simple put, he has to face the music!!!!!.

I hope that he will not be judged as any regular adult for this crime, and all of the above should be considered.

You have to ask yourself 2 questions. After reading all the threads, as some say the victim wants to be left alone. Would the victim be saying that if she had not received a undisclosed amount of money. No, I don't think so. Its facinating what money can acutaully buy. Next question, is did he commit a crime, admit and then flee. If so, he should pay the price, regardless of who he is and the money he has. In the end, because he is wealthy he will probably walk like all the rich people do.

The fact is a 43 years old man had a sexual relation with a 13 years old girl.
The fact is that that young woman looked much older than her age.
The fact is had she been a virgin, there is no doubt that man would have been struck by the sexual inexperience of the girl and should have had serious doubts about the age of his one night lover.
The average age for consent sex in the States is 16 years old. If you have sex with a girl of that age you are neither a pervert nor insane.
It was admitted that Roman Polanski did not know and could not know he was having a sexual relation with a 13 years old girl at the time.
The law says it’s a crime to have sex with a minor. It only takes into consideration the objective reality.
What happens when a person has sex with a minor but believes she/he isn’t?
We enter the world of perceived reality; a territory that belongs to justice. And that’s the role of justice to ponder the degree of responsibility of anybody in regards of their perception of the act at the time this act was committed. Regardless of the opinion, feeling we can have about sex and morality.
Was the attitude of the judge in line with the role of justice? I have some doubts about it. If we want Mr. Polanski to be extradeted to respond to justice, let’s do him some justice by recognizing that when he flue to France, justice was not done to him.
It might end up as a trial of justice as well as the trial of Roman Polanski. It would be a not so bad idea to close the case and let him go back to his country. 30 something years later, it’s water under the bridge…
Alain Truchat

I don't understand how people can be so polarized about this. He's a man who admitted to unlawful sex with a 13 year old girl, then fled the country to avoid prosecution. He has now been caught and should be put on trial. It doesn't matter if the judge reneged on a plea bargain. He's a sexual deviant that hasn't been tried for his crime. Simple. For anyone, including Mr. Weinstein who diagrees, think of any 13 year old female relative. If a grown man seduced her into unlawful sex and then fled the country would you simply forget about it. He admitted to it, he should be tried, no matter what his personal circumstances or talent

IS THIS A JOKE????HE RAPED A 13 YEAR OLD GIRL AND USED DRUGS ON HER!!!IS IT BECAUSE HE IS A DIRECTOR OR AN OSCAR WINNING DIRECTOR THAT EVERYONE IS SO FORGIVING.IF HE WORKED IN THE GROCERY STORE AND RAPED A 13 YEAR OLD I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD SAY "LET'S JUST LET HIM MOVE ON WITH HIS LIFE".THE VICTIM WANTS IT OVER YES ,BUT SOMETIMES JUSTICE HAS TO BE GIVEN ,SO I SEE THE VICTIM IS STILL SUFFERING BY HAVING TO RELIVE THIS RAPE AGAIN.THANKS TO THE RAPIST MR.POLANSKI!!!! AND PLEASE LET'S CALL A SPADE A SPADE.

FREE ROMAN POLANSKI RIGHT NOW! Most of the comments are saying "he did a crime, he must pay". And who tell you that he didn't paid for it? Because you think that only going to jail would be consider as the only way to pay for his mistake/transgression? This is so American, jesus....
What is behind this way of thinking is, once again, fear. "Let's put all the criminals in prison, even those who just stole a pizza and we'll be safe". It's all about your fear and mental comfort.
And for that, you're ready to send to jail a GENIUS film director who already suffered more tragedies in his life than any of us. EVEN if the victim has forgived him.
Stupid people, really. But i must admit one thing: in France, comments are just as stupid. Which proves that stupidity have no borders. But we knew that already, didn't we?

I know one thing for sure: if ever I were accused in the USA of anything that is even remotely connected to children or minors, I would flee the country as soon as I had the opportunity, guilty or not. The hysteria about this subject is so immense that a fair trial is almost impossible. Not only do so-called sex offenders get punishments completely out of proportion and often without any shred of evidence, but even after serving long sentences, often unguilty, they remain outcasts for the rest of their life. Wherever they want to live and get on with their life, there will always be some paranaoid, sick lunatics checking their new neighbours on the internet.
Of course Polanski was wrong seducing this girl, and he should have
gotten a proper sentence for it, thirty years ago. In a normal country that would be something like a fine, some community service, counseling, maybe even some time in jail if he knew the girl was only 13. But he obviously learnt his lesson and the girl is fine, so why bother now?
The purpose of a justice system is not punishment or revenge but 1) allowing victims of injustice to get on with their life and 2) making sure perpretators of injustice don't repeat their behaviour. Both goals have already been achieved, so nothing need to be done.

Whilst aged 43, he has sex with a 13 year old child. If this was anyone else other than an acclaimed film director, do you really think we would be having this debate? Quite frankly it's outrageous that he has not been extradited long before this.

It is really quite obvious that after this many years this is not about brining a man to justice, as much as it is about the District Attorney placing a medal on his chest.

Roman Polanski, has already made his amends to the girl, via a lawsuit she filed, he settled.

Roman Polanski has continued to progress in his life, be an asset to society, this is not a patholigical criminal, this is a one time mistake and he has shown via his actions over the past 30 years that he can live in society without any issues.

They need to move on, and pay more attention to the real criminals that are active in daily crime, this is nothing more than a drain on police manpower, and tax dollars,

PLEASE!! Let's maintain some perspective. Roman Polanski has directed, written, and performed in dozens of popular film and television productions. He has earned millions of dollars – and worldwide acclaim – for his artistic skills. He is a Hollywood legend. Knowing that, how can we condemn him for drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl and then fleeing the country for three decades to avoid prosecution?

I not posting on whether or not this guy needs to be extradited. There are reasonable mitigating factors both for and against. I'm posting because I simply cannot believe (regardless of one's pro or anti nationalistic views) that someone would write the following:

"Switzerland should NEVER have given in to pressure from the US to arrest a highly acclaimed film director only because some former British territories (which, after all, have been independent only for about 233 years, while it takes at least 500 years for any country to build a decent culture !!!) have some crazy laws about sexuality".

This person is so anti American that they are actually suggesting that considering the "RAPE" of a 13 yr old as illegal is a crazy law?

What planet are you from? Stop waving your flag for a moment and thing about what your suggesting.

The test should be: if this were not Polanski, but some unknown, regular person who was accused of a serious crime, confessed to his guilt, and then fled the country, would we be tolerant an "let him go"? Its pretty simple.

The article IS leading. Instead of the comment “…the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office is still interested enough to spend time and money, three decades later, to have him returned to California.” it should point out the material about prosecutorial and judicial misconduct that is so clearly laid out in the other article of CNN.com. In the latter article http://edition.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/09/27/zurich.roman.polanski.arrested/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
it is stated that " ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, Polanski, his lawyer and the prosecutor thought they'd worked out a deal that would spare Polanski from prison and let the young victim avoid a public trial.
But the original judge in the case, who is now dead, ... on the eve of his sentencing, ..... told attorneys he was inclined to send Polanski back to prison...."
This makes quite a difference. The current article, as written, is designed to elicit the redneck comments that it does.

Why is France embracing a Paedo??!! Who is protecting French Children against this monster? In a country like this how can we be sure he has not abused other children? Why give an award to a criminal?? This man should be sent to California to answer for his crime, it is overdue....Shame to those who are protecting him...they might be holding Madeline as well...

I find this vastly ironic and terribly sad that the media persecuted a man who was not guilty of pedophelia for years: nobody could be found to testify against Michael Jackson who hadn't already been found out to be a grifter and one of his many extortionists. Yet, this man lived a life harassed for crimes he never committed and were fervently disseminated by all media. Now we have Polanski, a brilliant artist for sure, but who was guilty of this crime and whose victim recognizes the wrongs done to her. By all means put him before a court.

@ Olga. May I remind you that his offense was committed in the US and he was subject to US and California laws. Whether you agree with them is not important. Perhaps you attitude reflects the Liechtenstein / Swiss attitude of only honoring laws or commitments when it is in their immediate interest? The Swiss have just received a very small taste of the consequences. Get off of your white horse.

No one is denying that he was convicted and served a short term 30 years ago. Also remember that he was traumatized when his wife Sharon Tate was murdered. Has not he suffered enough?
However, we cannot overlook the fact that the victim was compensated monitarily and saya that this should not go on.

What purpose would extraditing him to the USA serve? He has led a productive life. It seeme to me that justice has been served.

With California and Los Angeles needing funds to survive, why spend the time, money and effort to do this? Sounds like a vendetta.

what does leting him go free say to all the pedophilias, is okay to do nasty acts to children as long as you are famous and powerful? what is the difference between what he did and what Garrido did to Jaycee?

What can one say, but "it's been more than 30 years". What is wrong with you people? Even behind the Iron Curtain, the statute of limitations we had was 20 years – for murder!
Who the bloody cucumber cares – does the victim? no! Again the same blood-curdling American vindictiveness like in the Lockerbie case! Apart from the fact that the very concept of "statutory rape" should be banished, and its supporters sentenced to 20 lashes on the town square.
Having a blanket "statutory rape" law, based on absolute age (or age difference) is ridiculous and has no real-world justification. Usually, the distinction between consenting sex and rape is quite clear; rape is rape, regardless of age, and so is sex. To say that sex is rape, because of some arbitrary age limit, is at least unfair. I consider it not only unfair, but a crime against human nature; hence my comment about the 20 lashes.
As to the Polanski case, maybe it was rape, but not because of the age of the participants, but because of how it happened, and should be judged by this criterion alone. The age of the girl is irrelevant, as long as she was old enough to be able to have consenting sex (as she clearly was, in this case).
I hope it is clear what the role of a statute of limitations rule normally is, and why it should have been applied in this case, even if it had really been a rape to begin with. Can somebody explain why no such rule is being applied here?

I have always been a Polanski fan. Was sad when his wife was assassinated. Recognize that he has suffered tremendously thruought his life. However, what he did with a 13 yr. old girl was shocking and highly reprehensible, specially with the aid of drugs and liquor. Nobody is above the law, he should be deported to the U.S.A. and sentenced once again.

Where were the parents of the 13 year old victim while all this was happening?

It reminds me of the last Michael Jackson, where it was so obvious the parents were criminally negligent and trying to extort millions of dollars.

OK, bring Polanski back but put the girl's parents on trial too!

In fact, put the whole, hypocritical American society on trial, like the congressman who so energetically participated in the Clinton impeachment, then was caught having an improper affair with a young, male page.

I dont think it is right for Switzerland to back down and arrest Mr. Polanski just because America wants him to charge for a crime that would not have been called "rape" in Europe. Another fact is that Polanski is a French man and that he should be judged after French law. And in France neither the charge Polanski has been charged for nor the charge of rape is still possible after 30 years.

Olga – While I admit Americans are uptight about many aspects of sexuality, it is utterly horrifying for you to describe the laws preventing the rape of a child as "crazy laws about sexuality". The only actual craziness is your disgusting lack of regard for children.

I have always been a Polanki fan. Was sad when his wife was assassinated. Recognize that he has suffered tremendously throughout his life. However, what he did with a 13 yr. old girl was shocking and highly reprehensible, specially with the aid of drugs and liquor. Nobody is above the law, he should be deported to the U.S.A. and sentenced once again.

He should be extradited so this case can be closed. Fact there was an agreed plea deal and he served that time; the judge decided to renege on the deal after the agreed time was served; the victim feels its best put in the past; he hasn't committed additional crimes after all this time. Bring him back, publicly chastize him for his egregious act, dismiss any remaining issues based on the aforementioned.

Well, given that he had made a plea bargain during the original trial, and later on made deal with the Victim, i'm guessing lots of money, and that the victim herself has said they should drop the charges because she just wants it to be over with, I do not believe he should be extradited. But the again, he raped a 13 year old girl and got away with it, so maybe he should.

"The victim herself, now a grown woman, says she wants the case dropped and that she now feels she is a victim of the LA District Attorney for dragging this out. She reached a settlement with Polanski a long time ago."
If the "victim" herself see's no point in this why should we the people of the world be bothered either. Sometimes letting sleeping dogs lie is better than waking them up no?

Is this a legal issue or a political one?. Is the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office still interested three decades later looking for justice or moved for some political interest?
People from the extreme right side knew that Polanski will receive support from many “liberals” from Europe and will ask Obama for intervention, as it is now happening. I am sure they are planning to use this as a political weapon to attack his administration “of liberals”.
The victim itself has asked for dropping the case, so who is really behind this three decades later?. Has the DA some political interest, has he some connection with the “right’s guys”.

Absolutely Not.
America must revise its' "prosecution-for-revenge" attitude. To use the force of the Law to further sex-crime hysteria only promotes the interests of "Those Women" who, like MADD, would hijack the process to further their personal agenda.
Without a victim to defend, the case against Mr. Polanski is vapor. No purpose will be served by continuing save to further disrupt the lives of all parties involved.
Get Over It, you blithering idiots....and go see "The Pianist".

I'm a big movie buff and fan of Polansky's work. If the charges are true and he pleaded guilty beforehand. He should face the law and the consequences of his actions. This charges are too serious to let it pass.

The victim has moved on and put this behind her. I think what she has to say should speak some. She wants this dropped in order to avoid more turmoil. It's been 30 years, the US could have gotten him years ago if it really wanted to. This will rehash the pain for the woman.

Yes, Roman Polanski should be extradited to face the full rigour of he law. Justice must be seen to be done and done in all cases. The mighty, whether by virtue of brute strength, celebrity, economic or other advantage must not be thought to be exempt. Sex with a minor is among the most exploitative of crimes.

I don't know how legitimate the extradition would be but even though the victim has forgiven him (for whatever reason) by law, since this is a criminal case regardless of her current state or feelings it ceases to be in her hands to decide how society should punish him and more so because of her age at the time. On the other hand given the circumstances behind his capture, there must be someone out there who has has a bone to pick with Polanski and hence the trap.

I think the laws/sentencing should be obeyed. The man has paid for a lot already in his life (and pushed ahead, regardless). His mother died in a Nazi camp, growing up in communist Poland, the murder of his wife/baby and 30 years of exile in France. If it were me, I wouldn've gone insane.

Sentence him to 6 months of community service and give him a chance to work in Hollywood again. Let him get older and die with a clean slate and a good name.

He should be extradited. In a flagrant disregard for the rule of law and the judicial process he fled america and had been fugitve all this time. If it was a blackman who had raped a 13 year old girl and was caught would this be debated? the law cannot be seen to protect the affluent in our society.

Olga, what exactly are you referring to? What are the misconceptions you speak of? I am european, and I am so sick that the French have kept this filthy bastard out of prison for decades. Do you know that he forced that little girl into anal sex? I actually have a hard time understanding what weapon laws have to do with this particular case... seek a doctor, miss.

THIS IS FOR ALL THE INSIGNIFICANT RIGHTEOUS “JUSTICE SEEKING” LITTLE ZEROS WHO WANT POLANSKY'S HEAD, BUT HAVE NO REGARDS FOR THE WELL BEEN OF THE VICTIM SAMANTHA GEIMER: S H A M E ON Y O U ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

why nobody mention about that 'girl' has been compensated for quite a bit of money. won't it be a reason for her asking to drop the case?
and plus, guess the reason she choose to drop it is because she wanna move on. That's absolutely understandable for her to forgive.
But, the point is not only whether she want to drop it or not, but is about what the law is protecting for, here is nothing to do with her will.
Also, do mix up he is suffering from hiding himself in France, living there is far beyond suffer plus traveling everywhere without US extradition. Esp. When he is not a native American, you guys wanna tell he suffer from homesick?!

I don't care if the victim "settled" (ie: made herself some money) with Polanski and wants the case dropped. Not prosecuting him would set a precedent that a person doesn't need to be prosecuted just because the victim has gotten over it. (ie: been paid off)

He may even now be an honest, law obiding citizen in France, but he committed a crime and pleaded guilty. There is no question of his guilt, and he fled the country to escape his punishment. It is sad for his family that he let this hang over their heads his whole life.

But he was a grown man then, and a grown man now, and no one is above the law. He needs to set the right example for his children and accept the consequences of his past actions and decisions.

What he did 30 years ago was despicable and if he was a catholic priest he would be absolutely villified and rightly so. The fact that he had a tragic family life and is a brilliant director does not excuse him.

Now the victim has moved on and does not want this dragged up again, however allowing Polanski go would send a terrible message to victims of child abuse.

He should go back and do deal with the DA for a suspended sentence, spend a huge amount of time on community service and pay $5m to support groups for child abuse victims and let that be the end of the case for all concerned

He fled the USA for a crime. He must be held accountable regardless if the victim now wants the case dismissed. I have a viable option and that would be for France to guarantee that they would hold him in jail to serve an adequate sentence without time off for good behavior. An agreement between the USA and France would be needed to be drawn up and signed to that effect. Polanski would have to sign the paperwork. Justice would be served and no more American money spent chasing after this case. If France should not want such an agreement then he should be extradicted to the USA. Regardless of his accomplishments and his past there is no excuse for molesting a child. Here is a man who made the film The Pianist which tells of WW2 pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman and the story of his family being deported to a German concentration camps. We would sway ourselves to say what a wonderful piece of work he has made when in fact he has made a atrocity to a young child. He plead guilty to that fact.

no i do not... there is great documentry about the trial and how the judge was so crooked.....i think it should be thrown out ..... he had sex with a underage girl....big difference to rape....watch the doco

I believe he should be tried for his alleged offence. However, I believe Switzerland should not extradict him knowing he will get harsher punishment in the US than in Switzerland for the same offence – that will violate his own rights

Look, i'm sorry about his early life, being homeless and his family being persecuted as jews in WWII. But HOW has he "paid his dues" as some of you are saying? He pleaded guilty, then fled, so why is everyone saying to drop the case? I'm sure all of you would have the same opinion if it had been your 13 year old sister. I'm sure you'd want to "let him go!"

The fact is that he should be treated like any other person would isn't involved with money and hollywood. He should be extradited and sentenced to the correct time. He should be a regular joe in the courtroom, whether he will be or not is another question.

Simply because Mr. Polanski is famous he should not be given any extra immunity. It is scandalous, if Mr. Mitterrand’s daughter had been drugged, sodomized and the admittedly guilty person then fled justice today, there would be such an outcry in France.

Polanski is a fugitive from justice, and he knows it. Other less well to do people can do the same thing and not be able to so easily skip town. He should have spent his time in jail in the 70's and 80's.

The law is clear: A thirteen year old, especially one who has been deliberately plied with wine and Quaalude cannot in an American or French or a Swiss jurisdiction give consent to sex with a 40+ year old man (or woman). The French are clearly thinking there is no crime here, but the Americans and the Swiss know this man is a criminal nd this is / was a serious crime.

We cannot forget: children deserve / require special protection under the law because often (as in this case) they cannot protect themselves from predatory adults. Polanski was predatory in this case, and he has not suffered much in the last 30 years. Instead he has been going to fabulous parties, making millions of dollars, being part of the beautiful people group and not having to face justice. This fact is absolutely disgraceful.

Shame on the organizers of the Zürich Film festival who have said they wish him to be let go so they can give him another special award. Maybe they should have realized in the first place it is absurd to give an award to a convicted child rapist who knowingly (to all) fled avoided justice.

Mr. Polanski needs to be jailed... and pay his debt. Not just for Drugging, Raping, Sodomizing a 13 year old, but also for deliberately escaping justice.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is unfit to be a parent or to interact regularly with young teenage children. This man is a sex offender under the law and needs to be registered as such.

Congratulations to the Authorities from the Swiss Department of Justice who take the safety and security of underage children seriously. The message is clear here: Mr. Polanski If you are a convicted child predator and rapist, you are not welcome in Switzerland, and you will face justice.

He didn't rape her, after all. It's a personal matter, given the fact that she ddin't look or act as a "typical" 13-year-old. She was freaking willing – that's so obvious. Let him go. He had no "malicous intent" – that's what matters. He was not "reckless" either. He just didn't know. That's okay.

The USA's justice system is a major "fake of justice", based on political ambitions of DAs, and "public opinion" of "registered voters", who are "also people" for the most part.

I remind most of you that since Polanski ran away the 30 years "rule" does not apply. Is was and is a fugitive. Probably the case will be thrown out of court for some of the reasons others have already cited, but the case won't be tried in the court of public opinion. The victim can tell the court her wishes. Running away and living the high-life, however, does not sound to me as "punishment" nor remorse or acknowledgment of wrongdoing. In fact more the opposite. He can do what he wants with a 13 year old because he is: famous, French?, wealthy.

As for the suggestion that since he is French he must be held to French Laws, apparently, while in California is ridiculous. Where did you get such a notion? Looks like you had an answer looking for a question.

Another suggestion that American girls, and no one else, all look to be 25 years old. Another rather stupid statement which shows your hatred for the USA and Americans and especially young American girls.

If the law must be the same for everybody, then put in jail RIGHT NOW your former president and his cursed soul VP for crimes against mankind. Dozens of thousands of people died in an unlegitimate war and still Bush and Cheney ( and Rumsfeld, and all the others ) won’t go to jail.

I will accept that Polanski go to jail when Bush and Cheney will be in jail, too. There, the law will be the same for everybody. But truth is that it’s not and have never been. But most of you don’t care. All what you’re care about is your mental comfort as i’ve said. Your primitive thirst of revenge is all about YOUR fear, nothing else. If Polanski was a dangerous pedophile i could agree that he’ll be a threat for the society, but he is not.

i left america last year after 12 years and im ashamed i became american...america is not a nice free generous open country...americans voted bush for 8 years, let OJ walk free, are in love with their bimbos paris hilton, jessica simpson, kardashian trash family..,50% of the population is fat, people die or go broke because of no free healthcare, feminism turned women into mean sad women..now 32 years later they go after a old man of 76 while america murdered half million iraquis...he pleaded guilty because he had a deal...the judge was playing games...he left..i would have done the same..shame on america shame on switzerland and shame on all idiots screaming for justice...look at his whole life...he already paid his due and the victim is violated again and again...no more america for me and im very proud my french goverment is behind this old man.

Imagine you heard this on Oprah....
"A man who has been running from the law for over 3 decades has finally been arrested this week and is awaiting extradition from Switzerland. He pled guilty for drugging and rapping a 13 year old child in the 70's and fled the country before a sentence could be passed."
Now tell me what you think....
I don't care what he's done or how many Oscar's he's been nominated for. I have two young daughters and I get the chills just knowing that some people including the Prime Minister of France and several Hollywood "big shots" have the audacity to say that he should be set free.

France, the very country which has broken massive child pornography ring just few months ago now demands clemency for a child rapist, weird & act of a great hypocrisy par excellence. If the whole case is not brought under justice then it will be a very bad example for future justice system, very ,very,very bad example…………

The argument has strayed comletely. Europeans do not understand plea bargaining and Americans seem not to have the facts. He only pleaded guilty BECAUSE of plea bargaining. I commented before on judicial miscoduct with regard to the plea bargaining that EXISTED and included NO JAIL TIME. Then a judge reneged.
Here is a solution: enforce the plea bargaining now, sentense him in absentia to XX months of community service. Then the Europeans would have no reason not to extradite him. But as it stands, they, correctly, do not extradite anyone facing the death penaly to any of our states that still have it. Given the lack of safety in our prisons and the fate that awaits a "rapist", if I was a European judge I would not extradite him for this either.

Many people writing here are confused: Mr. Polanski will not be extradited to be tried for an old crime: HE WAS CONVICTED OF THIS CRIME UNDER DUE PROCESS OF LAW. He was only awaiting sentencing or appeals when he fled. The facts of the case clear at the time and there was no doubt for the Jury. That is why he pleaded guilty.

Oh, and by the way, it is not up to Ms. Geimer to decide if he should be prosecuted or not. If he is a convicted child rapist, he is (or was) a risk to all of societies underage children and not just Ms. Geimer. Under the law the victim has no right to determine if a convicted rapist should or should not serve time. The only control a victim has is to testify or not to testify. The Defendant is Proscecuted by the Public Prosecutor in the Name of the People of the specific jurisdiction (California in this case).

No one is above the law. Not the President. Not a Congressman. Not a Judge. Not a French or Polish Citizen, and not a Famous, Politically Connected Director. Talent is not innocence. He made a foolish decision in skipping bail and he should face up to it.

I feel he should be held to the same standard anyone else would be. It seems like he is being held to that standard. No one is above the law, right? Who knows though.. Maybe getting this finally behind him (should he be extradited or how ever it is resolved) will help all parties achieve the closure they all so desperately need!

How will they extradite him technically if EU does not approve it? Switzerland is enclaved in EU and even if they decide to extradite him I do not see them carrying it. Any plane carrying Polanski will not be allowed to fly in EU airspace. Anyhow Switzerland is sucking up to USA big time.

The US has the highest prison population (percentage and figure wise) than any other country in the world. we put people in jail for possession of marijuana (practically no other country in the world does), we put people in jail many petty crimes that other countries place a fine on. We like to put people in jail, especially if they are poor.

Now we have a case of a man who committed a crime 31 years ago, he had sex with a 3 year-old girl, THAT LOOKED 25, admitted it, and when he saw that a publicity hungry judge was about to throw the book at him fled.

Now I am not saying he should not be punished, but since the victim, the aggrieved party wants the charges dropped, they should be dropped.

Why wasted tax payers money pursuing a crime in which the victim herself does not want to pursue.

Let it be. Drop the 31 year-old charges charges and let a 76 year-old man and a 46 year-old woman get on with their lives.

Nobody except the LA DA's office wants to pursue this. Let's add one more to our prison population, one that only the publicity hungry LA DA's office seems to want.

NO!, this case was settled a long time ago. Why did America not catch him sooner, its not that they did not had the chance. Seems to me they first wanted to cash in on his films. It has been more than 30 years ago, times change, he paid for his sentence in multiple ways, more than you can imagine. That poor woman does not want it too and she should have the final say in this. This is very poor case of judgment of the American justice system, i really hope he wont be trailed.

Polanski has been visiting Switzerland for many many years (he has a house there). Why the arrest now? What other "deals" were the Swiss forced to accept with the recent "deal" on the privacy of their banking clients? Where is the list of all those Americans that have/had secret bank accounts in Switzerland? Looks like Polanski is one of the "deals" that the Swiss made in order to appease the Americans.

If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. In his case, at least three. Giving drugs to a child, having sex with a child, and fleeing arrest. Almost all other talented, forty year old people with difficult childhoods and personal lives would not have not let their carnal impulses violate a child, even a precocious one. If the American prosecutor passes on this one we should let all other sex offenders out of jail also if they are willing to pay off the victim(s) directly.

Didn't the US take in many known Nazi criminals after 1945 & welcomed them for research etc & not with criminal prosecution.
Didn't the Us take in many tained politiciens from South America ?
Eventhough the victim declared her willingness to forgive Polanski should the US not do likewise ?. Is it wise for the US to try and regain it's moral superiority by trying to extradite & prosecute a 30 years + offender who paid a huge tribute to humanity .Is this a modern Mcarthyism?. The US, don't you ever learn from the past ; do you know your past?

Why should we allow polanski to go free? Just because he has been successful and a lot of time has passed? The girl he raped was 13 and so was Jaycee Dugard. Let's say Phillip Garrido was able to go to Mexico and stop the drug war that is ongoing. Does it change the fact that he committed a horrific crime against a defenseless girl with her whole life in front of her?

"a little mistake"? How can Otto Weisser, or anyone for that matter, say that? So now drugging and raping a child is "a little mistake"? Some people are truly perverted. Yes he should be extradited, yes he should go to jail.

How will they extradite him technically if EU does not approve it? Switzerland is enclaved in EU and even if they decide to extradite him I do not see them carrying it. Any plane carrying Polanski will not be allowed to fly in EU airspace. Anyhow Switzerland is sucking up to USA big time.

Incredible the swiss,
1.first they hide money for nazi germany knowing its from the fortunes of the 6 million ews they killed – germans who raped everything!!!
2. they then deny that they knew where the money came from
3. They then give " some of it " back
4. They then hide monies for all the drug dealers, terrorists and rogue ex statesman for over 60 years

.....and now they are they are the police of the world!! Lets put the bankers of zurich and geneva in jail first before putting a man who has clearly given us beatiful films and hapiness – his alleged victime has said "leave me alone" so lets leave roman polanski alone!!

since when does the swiss political establisment in the higher up's not have the decency to think just a bit further and formulate procedures of sensitive nature carefully to not upset the swiss goodwill further in this many challenging events around the world and at home. you just hit another nail on the wrong place in the way you have arrested this well known gentlemen before his award... and for just to feed the already poor reporting to have another lousy hayday...get smarter in a hurry and fence those financial guys in. which would make a lot of swiss happier.

Yes, he should. He already admitted his guilt regarding the original charge of under age sex. Worse, he was not adult enough to accept the sentence of a court-and ran away. He has subsequently used his undoubtably justifiable fame as a talented filmaker to 'shield' him from public disapproval.

No he should not be extradited. The case is too old and nobody really knows what happened except her and him. This is clearly another case of American Grandstanding. It is not about Justice. It is about the American way of we are the Righteous.

The US has the highest prison population (percentage and figure wise) than any other country in the world. we put people in jail for possession of marijuana (practically no other country in the world does), we put people in jail many petty crimes that other countries place a fine on. We like to put people in jail, especially if they are poor.

Now we have a case of a man who committed a crime 31 years ago, he had sex with a 13 year-old girl, THAT LOOKED 25, admitted it, and when he saw that a publicity hungry judge was about to throw the book at him fled.

Now I am not saying he should not be punished, but since the victim, the aggrieved party wants the charges dropped, they should be dropped.

Why wasted tax payers money pursuing a crime in which the victim herself does not want to pursue.

Let it be. Drop the 31 year-old charges charges and let a 76 year-old man and a 46 year-old woman get on with their lives.

Nobody except the LA DA's office wants to pursue this. Let's add one more to our prison population, one that only the publicity hungry LA DA's office seems to want.

One view: "Leave him alone. He's paid for his crime. The girl forgave him and was recompensed with an undisclosed settlement. It happened long ago and it is a waste of money to extradite and try Polanski."

Another view: "Justice must prevail. He has not paid for his crime. His depravations prior to his initial success in 1960's and subsequent accolades as a storied director after 1977 doesn't cancel out his depraved crime. He must reap his reward in this life at the hands of the US government."

The first view believes his fame and fortune factor into how he is treated now and minimizes the actual crime against the child.

The latter view believes he is accountable regardless of how long ago he committed this horrible crime against a child and his talents notwithstanding.

The US has the highest prison population (percentage and figure wise) than any other country in the world. we put people in jail for possession of marijuana (practically no other country in the world does), we put people in jail many petty crimes that other countries place a fine on. We like to put people in jail, especially if they are poor.

Now we have a case of a man who committed a crime 31 years ago, he had sex (statutory rape, not force rape) with a 13 year-old girl, THAT LOOKED 25, admitted it, and when he saw that a publicity hungry judge renegated on the deal that was agreeded to and was about to throw the book at him he fled.

Now I am not saying he should not be punished, but since the victim, the aggrieved party wants the charges dropped, they should be dropped.

Why wasted tax payers money pursuing a crime in which the victim herself does not want to pursue.

Let it be. Drop the 31 year-old charges charges and let a 76 year-old man and a 44 year-old woman get on with their lives.

Nobody except the LA DA's office wants to pursue this. Let's add one more to our prison population, one that only the publicity hungry LA DA's office seems to want.

In 1977 I had sex with a few 13yo girlfriends in the beaches of Brazil (I was 17) many girlfriends dumped me cause they were dating older guys, more interesting, with cars and charm +30. In 1977 the world was very different. But in the US the minors-sex taboo was already running, and would contaminate the rest of the world in the 80´s onward, starting by sexual harassment at work. Everybody knows in the 60s 50s and previous decades a gorgeous woman was subject to harassment by bosses, still it was not a crime and nobody went to jail. Many social phobias of today are very new laws, passed only in the last 10 or 20 years, still young people under 40 think they have been forever.

And another thing, some 13yo yankee girls as this Samantha had at the time in 1977 a body of an 18yo with big boobs and it was not the first time she had alcohol, she had been at parties before!
PB

Having sex with a child after getting her drunk and drugging her is rape, whichever civilized country you come from. I find the attitude of some Europeans who are defending him to be hypocritical, to say the least.

Had Polanski been Joe Schmoe he would still be in jail, and would not have had the opportunity to flee. His fame and money should in no way interfere with justice.

Has Polanski not suffered enough, his defenders argue, both in his personal life and with his absence from Hollywood?

i would like to say that there are so many people who are engaged with law..guilty or not guilty but prosecutors want to make up their cases..and hold people responsible just to have a conviction..thats what happened to me..i am sorry i am /no Mr. Polanski i am just a common man but the truth is that the Justic Department of United States is just a Department.
While Fairness is Alway Just.. Justice is not Always Fair..

I like his films and I am sorry for the murder of his wife. Those two aspects of his life do not put him above the law. I hope he is cleared, but he must face justice.
To Olga from Vaduz: would it be legal for me to have sex with a 13 year old girl, say your daughter/grandaughter, even if she "consented"? would you forgive for doing it after 30 years?

You need a better knowledge of the American Judicial System. A District Attorney is not a Public Prosecutor. He is an Elected Official. Meaning it is with in his best interests to put as many peopel in Jail as he can to have a good track record. Therefore to further his Political Career and Political Aspirations.

The "victim" wants the case dropped, so why they even arrested him? What's wrong with the US? I could understand if he was a murder or was a threat of some kind, but let's face it – Polanski was a victim of a 'sexually active teenager', who wanted some easy money... and she got it by the way...

You Americans are so proud about Your country. Do not forget about Indians and Africans. You have never paid any compensation to them. You never agree for extradiction of Your citizens! Edward Mazur who is suspected of serious crime is defended by Your courts Americans!
What do You know about equality in a front of law? He is polish citizen and french citizen. Feet away from Polanski!

He should go to jail. Sex with a minor is a jail term. Serve it you pedophile!!!! This is so disgusting to allow such a stupid debate on whether he should go to jail or not. What if it was your child? Would you debate on this? I would castrate him....

Do you really think he did all those things... just because he pleaded guilty..? Really? Well, maybe he did and maybe he didn't. Hello!! He made a plea bargain! Someone can admit to things they did not do to get out of other charges, and someone can get out of things they did do. That's called bargaining!

Some others have mentioned that this article is biased... I read in here about "a judge who reneged" on his plea bargain. The missing details are that the judge planned to add extra time, after time was already served and the bargain was already made. Why don't we go around tricking everybody who makes a plea bargain, like they do in many third world countries?

Even the victim said she was upset about the way this was handled. The victim is satisfied that the time already served is time enough. Doesn't that speak volumes?

Oh... you did not know that he already served time? Why not add 1 1/2 months in the psych ward? Yes, after the plea bargain was made. Add mine to the list of opinions that article is biased.

First off, people keep saying the victim is all grown up and does not want to "press charges". The fact is, Polanski already pleaded guilty and was awaiting sentencing when he fled like a coward. If he is returned to the States, there would be no trial, just the sentencing, so Samantha Geimer's request that "charges be dropped" is a moot point.

In regards to some of the Europeans' belief that 30 years is long enough and we should have a statute of limitations for child rape, they should be reminded that Polanski's mother died in a concentration camp, and the United States as recently as this year, continues to extradite Nazi war criminals to Europe to face trial for crimes committed nearly 70 years ago. So where is the double standard now?

Many have eluded that he should not be brought back to stand punishment for his crime simply because the "victim" has stated that
she does not want to have him stand punishment. What if he had killed a child, and paid the parents off – and then they decided that because of the payoff – or because of the amount of time which had gone by that to bring it up once again would be painful – would you then let his conviction fall by the side of the road and simple dismiss the judicial system altogether ?? He IS guilty of RAPING a Child – by his OWN admission – the "child" is now grown but that does not diminish the severity of this crime. Just because of "who he may be" does not make him any less guilty – If he should get off of this crime what is to keep another from raping a child and fleeing the country to wait for the minor to become an adult so they can re-enter the country – People get your head out of your butts – – this is a crime – he should be extradited and he should be required to pay for his crime to the FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW – as well as fleeing to avoid prosecution. How many others have suffered because of his "so called standing inside the movie business?" How many more will have to suffer if he is set free???

Okay–let's start with the facts. He did it. He admits to doing it. The victim admits he did it. He plead guilty.

It was a horrendous crime. France protected him. To me, that's the real injustice. France shielded a child rapist. Were the French thinking of the victim, or protecting an artist? I love France, I love the French, but to me, that was inexcusable.

And it is because of France's protection that we are asking this question, 30 years later. Had he been extradited immediately, there would be no debate right now. So, I hold France as guilty as Polanski.

Now, would justice be served by having him come back and face the music? Perhaps. But it would serve no useful purpose. Polanski is not a habitual pedophile.

For me, the bottom line is, "Justice delayed is justice denied". That's what happened here, thanks to France. And because of that, there's no easy answer. There is no justice, and there can never be justice.

Just because he is a talented filmmaker does not mean he is above the law. He commited a crime, a horrible crime, and he must pay for it, no matter how much time has gone by. The hollywood elite once again are trying to get one of their own to get off the easy way. They think that the law is for everyone else but not for them. We are all the same, whether rich or poor, filmmaker or not, tall or short, white or black, young or old and we should all be treated the same way, no privileges should be given to anyone. Therefore, he should be extradited to The U.S. and sentenced to spend the time in jail that he avoided by fleeing to France, just like a coward, when he should have faced justice.

It's strange to me how many people have rushed to his defense. I guess they've never had a 43 year old man drug and rape their 13 year old and confess to it. The victim also got a fat settlement so she could keep her mouth close and let the rich guy off!

Rich or not Hollywood mafia this man is going to jail. And what this proves once again, if you rape a child in this country no matter how long it takes you're gonna get your day to face the music.

I am shocked at all of the awards he's received in light of the rape charges.

Regular people who make a "mistake" of this sort have to suffer the consequences. Why not Mr.Polanski? He should live up to the standard set by Mr.Buttafuoco (sorry for the spelling) in the Amy Fisher case.

I´m horrified that it has taken thirty years to finally arrest this man. I feel sick to my stomach that during this time he found financing for his movies, sympathy with Hollywood and Europe and Oscar wins for his films. All his artistic attempts should have been boycotted and all those who worked with him should have known better. The Piano was one of my best films of all time but seriously I could do without the movie, his talents and his genius and settle for a safer world where 13 year old girls are not lured into naked photo shoots and are then drugged and raped. This man is not above the law. Of any country.

Is it antiquated to expect a 40 year old man to leave a 13 y.o. girl alone? He drugged and raped her, despite her protestations. Which sexual mores do you subscribe to that allow for this type of exploitation and abuse? He avoided serving his sentence and fled the country. What's the difference between Polanski and Garrido? They are both pedophiles! Just because he paid off the victim in this case doesn't mean there's not a string of others, under the surface, others have allowed him to hide. His past tragedies should have made him more sensitive to the suffering of others, not immune from punishment for criminal acts.

I think he should be in jail. But then again, maybe not... Who knows, maybe this will force legislation to lower the age limit for sexual intercourse... Except sodomy, you should be at least 16 before trying that...

He should be extradited. Nobody is above the law. He is a rapist and he should be treated like any other poor bastard. His faith, money and artistic talent should not factor into it. The law should apply fairly and equally for all. Bring him back and loer the boom in him. It's time for him to pay for his actions.

The charges should be dropped against him for assault per the wishes of the "girl" who endured it. Its her WISH that this be dropped because of all the public attention she and her family receive each time the press or the JUSTICE system gets air time on this issue. She has moved on...leave her alone.

If the JUSTICE system desires to do something, extradict him on jumping bail or whatever charge is synonymous.

Reading the story, this has been nothing but an exploit of the girl by RP, the judicial bench, and the press.

Well look, it is good thing there are people who go after people who have raped someone. But it was long time ago, and all parties, I think, want to put this behind them.
She looked like she was in her twenties when this happened, I understand, so P. PROBABLY didnt guess he was raping a minor.
WHAT HE DID WAS WRONG, no doubt.
But it was long time ago, he paid her, nobody involved wants this to go on anymore, so let it go already.

There must be no privileges for anyone. If privileges are granted to Mr. Polanski because he is a famous movie director, the legal system will be corrupted. It is amazing that some governments and institutions are exerting pressure on the U.S. legal systems to grant immunity to Mr. Polanski on account of his celebrity.

Fact check: Polanski admitted he gave alcohol and "about" half a qualude tranquilizer (date rape drug of choice in the 70`s) to the 13 year old so he could do what he wanted... big man, real rolel model there..... so much for "consent". The guy is a great director and a world class child molester. He goes to jail and can rot there, he got a thirty year free ride. He was INVITED to work in the USA and repaid that opportunity by drugging, sodomizing and raping a child.

This creep should be locked up for what he did to this 13yr old girl and he should also face time for running to France. People that are out raged about him being arrested should be locked up too. HE RAPED A 13yr old girl.
Even if she has moved on its out of her control now. I hope and pray he gets what he gave in prison.

I DONT THINK HE SHOULD BE SENTENCED FOR THIS CRIME BECAUSE IT HAPPED SO LONG AGO AND IF SHE WANTS IT TO BE PUT IN THE PAST I THINK IT SHOULD BE TO.NOW MAYBE IF IT WOULD'VE HAPPED IN THIS TIME FRAME THEN YEA BUT THEY WILL TRY TO BRING UP ANY OLD THING TO HOLD IT AGAINST SOMEONE.

no one really know what happened 30 some years ago ... the lady who is now over 40 years old doesn t want to see this man on trial who is over 70 year old ... to me its the procuror from LA who wants publicity for himself and to waste US tax payers money. its absolutly ridiculous.

I feel absolutely NO PITY for Polanski. Regardless of his fame and genius, this man should have been brought to justice YEARS AGO. The scandal lies not in Polanski's arrest, but elsewhere: This man has been on luxury-vacations to many countries, including to Switzerland, for decades! As a Swiss citizen, I can only congratulate the local police authorities for the arrest. On the other hand, film makers and industry representatives (some of whom are speaking of "a small mistake he made thirty years ago" !) should think twice before coming to the rescue of Polanski: what if the vicitm had been their own daughter, sister or a girl-friend?! The support of the Zurich Film Festival to the arrested Polanski have brought me to the decision to boycott this event for the next few years. An organisation who protects suspected pedophiles and run-away suspects has no particular merits – not even in the movie business...

a 43 year old man plied a 13 year old girl with alcohol and drugs, then proceeded to have sexual intercourse with her. This same man has admitted to doing so and pled guilty to it. Then because his paying off the victim and his chummy back room deals didn't guarantee him he wouldn't have to do prison time, he fled the country. But hey, that's okay because he makes good movies and having to have been "exiled" from America for all these years is punishment enough.

I bet if a 43 year old man did that to his 13 year old daughter it wouldn't be even close to being punishment enough!

If it were MY 13-year-old daughter who were drugged and raped, I certainly would expect that the criminal responsible would serve the appropriate sentance. It's not as if he tried to fight the charges – he plead guilty. He should get appropriate credit for the time he did serve, and then he should be expected to serve the remainder of his fair sentance. Does he feel that he "bought" his freedom by reaching a settlement with the 13-year old in a civil suit? We don't allow that in our justice system!!! You cannot buy your way out of prison!!

Who cares if this man won the oscars. Many people in this world have a hard life but he chose to rape a 13 year old girl and flea. Does every talented man have the right to do the same act and flea?? Why is CNN saying he had sex when this is pure rape !!! This is just wrong he should serve his time regardless.

it appears that sex with minors is legal in france, if you're rich, famous and "benefit[] from great general esteem" and have "exceptional artistic creation and human qualities."

don't get me wrong, I have great respect for Polanski and don't care whether he's extradited or not. but this case should not just be 'forgotten' just because he's a nice guy and it happened a long time ago..

imagine Samantha is YOUR daughter.

oh, and by the way, I'm Swiss – and if you didn't know, Otto Weisser (Polanski's good friend who said he made a "little mistake"), is a Playboy-photographer.. :D

It's a risk that Polanski will be victim of judicial lynching in California when he will be extradited. In my opinion jail is for correction of wrong behaviour and for protecting the society, rather than for retaliation and revenge. Therefore, I beleve in concept of statute of limitations.
Don't get me wrong, but American law seems to be a little barbarian for many people in Europe... 150 years in jail for Maddof? Come on! Be realistic! It's a simple revenge, nothing else. You can't call it law... I do not want to offend anyone, but we had some people in our territory who came from Germany in 1939 and who used the term "law" for some strange things. I think we should carefully separate law from "law".
It's a huge risk that for "educational purposes" Polanski will be also sentenced to many, many years in jail. There are also reasons to believe that the trial will not be fair because the accused is a Pole.
By the way, it’s hard to believe that there is no connection between the last UBS's case and Polanski's arrest.
Sorry for my English. Fortunately, bad English is not the crime in Poland...

It's true United States did lot's of mistakes lately. But how could one claim that abnormal sex is in the spirit of the 21th century. We are invaded by homosexuality, paedofilism, we pervert children's minds in thinking they could multiply making sex with their own gender fellow, sperm is likened as food by some stupid lot not thinking this a form of cannibalism. don't you think in this way the world will lead to disaster? Not the global warming is the concern, but the degeneration of human brain. Hope god is not sexually damaged too. As for Polanski he was payed for his contribution as a film director. When he lured that then 13 year old into his bed knew well it was illegal. if he's a real value he should stand the trial again to end this mess in a legal way but if it's a scum he must let be free and die in shame.

The CA justice system and the overzealous DA really stepped in it big time on this one !!! They should have left well enough alone!!!! Now there's no way out for them !!! The guy has been been convicted already-so they can't simply "let him go" with slap on the wrist.–not for the crime he committed on top of the fact that he is who he is. And now there is additional charges for fleeing the judicial system to deal with. So now- the victim doesn't want to deal with it --she decided that long ago! But now she'll have to! And now the bankrupt CA government is going to have put up the cost of dealing with all the publicity and court time-then they'll be saddled with the cost his imprisonment-which will be overly expensive due to the fact that he is a celebrity !!!! Do I think he should get away with the crime-h3ll no! But the bankrupt state of California has many more serious and pressing matters to spend their time and resources on. !!! Looks like OJ might have a new neighbor !!!

I believe the America justice system is often too harsh and unforgiving, and the poor and powerless usually bear the brunt of this. Be that as it may, the rules must apply in the same way to the rich and famous. We all know if Polanski wasn't a talented and influential film director, he'd have been arrested and sent back long ago for fleeing his sentence. And let's remember that he was originally charged with more than just having sex with a minor. That charge, which Polanski pleaded guilty to, was a result of a plea bargain.

I genuinely can't understand why this matter is even being debated. This man had sex with a child. In any civilised country in the world, the admission of this crime would carry a severe punishment.

What justifiable reason other than that the guy is Roman Polanski is there for him being given clemency? And in answer to those who refer to the victim of the crime wishing for the charges to be dropped, have they never heard of Stockholm Syndrome?

Laws exist so that victims and other involved parties don't have the power to decide who is punished and who isn't. He broke the law of the country in which he was living. I really can't see any other pertinent argument. Extradite the guy and let him face trial.

Many people here seem to be missing the point. We is not going back to be tried on a 30 year old charge. He already has been found guilty and then fled the country. You cannot just say OK, if he managed to hide out for 30 years he should just be free of any guilt.

Once again. He has already been found guilty of the crime. And then fled before the sentencing.

He should face the music like anyone else. We don't have exceptions for people in the face of the law. However the US should be measured. He has two counts on him. First the sentence, then the crime of fleeing the sentence. Give him some public service as a sentence, and make it substantial . Then all gain/don't lose face. let the US demonstrate they are a modern country.

As for Switzerland, where I live – I (and many swiss) shiver to think the authorities have applied the law without due judgement. It was not their problem, but it is now. To say they just couldn't arrest him on previous forays is just making them look either like benders of truth or incompetent. Could have been dealt with better. For example they could have warned him not to come and avoided the problem in the first place! Seems a bit out of character with the Switzerland I know.

For heaven's sake! – This was 32 years ago.- How long does the US have a right to hound someone? – Leave the guy alone. Is he a serial child molester????? – Of course not. Whether the politically correct choose to accept it or not, there are some siren 13 years old that are instigators. Polanski showed an act of human weakness 32 years ago – and for that the US has made itself the wonderful and vengeful champion of legal rectitude. How tragically zealous. I wish the Justice department had pursued some politicians with the same single minded obsession. The US is rapidly becoming a ridiculous dinosaur – lampooned by the rest of the civilized world.

For all those who think he should not be extradited. maybe you people's should have 13 duaghter an have a Oscar winning director drug and rape her. I think that after 30 years you will still be a little mad maybe? and if it was a John Smith who did this or a Michael Jackson I bet you will all be throwing him to the wolfs

Bottomline is this man committed a crime against a minor! He plead guilty and there was alreadya trial. He fled his sentence. I don't care if the woman 'forgave' him. Forgiveness doesn't give him absolution for his crime. Yes, he should be extradited. Him being famous doesn't absolve him from breaking the law. It would set a really bad precedent if he were to be let go because it happened "30 years ago".

Sounds sensible to have a statute of limitations that is somewhat lower than 31 years. In Europe, not even premeditated murder exceed 31 years in prison in most nations. US has somewhat draconian penalties, make a mistake and stay behind bars until death – unless killed by the State.

The only way to avoid these type of conflicts between lenient old Europe and draconian new world order would be to not have extradition treaties...like France.

Polanski escaped the nazis, survived Crakow ghetto, the communist persecution, lost his wife and unborn child to the knife of a crazy crew, may have infringed the law and may not escape the justice of LA. So what?

What worries me stands on a different chapter.

Ms Geimer has three children, presumably quite young. Polanksi has two, 16 and 9. The comments made in the forums are just nauseating for these poor kids who pay the high price without knowing why. Cant' we just be human and let the judges do their work, God give the ultimate judgement and leave to these kids some peace? They are those who will judge us for our quickly carved judgements, making them feel responsible, or angry, for something they have nothing to do with.

Those who have a lost a parent to jail, war or persecution should stand in front of this crowd.

too bad so sad about his hard life – thats no excuse for the sexcrime against a minor. no plea bargain should have been allowed in the 1st place. time to pay the piper – and why not bring Woody Allen along for incest while we r at it !

The man pled guilty to having sex with a 13 year old little girl and then ran away before he could be sentenced. Yes he should be extradited and he should serve time in prison and spend the rest of his life as a registered sex offender.

He may have committed a crime, but there is only a crime if there is a victim. In this case, the victim is in her forties and SHE DOES NOT WANT TO PROSECUTE. Therefore, there is NO crime anymore and this is a waist of the taxpayer's money.

Definitely let him go for the following reasons:
1) Polanski didn't know that she was only 13 at the time of the act.
2) Nevertheless, he admitted guilt, but the original judge didn't stick to the plea bargaining.
3) The judge's failure to honor plea bargaining and subsequent death led to Polanski's flee from the US. His escape should not be counted against him.
4) Polanski has suffered enough already.
5) The victim herself wants this case dropped.

Absolutely silly, all this hubbub. The Swiss have been so painfully "correct" that it's embarrassing...and probably just because they felt that he was taunting them (by refusing to go to Germany, for example, where he was _sure_ he would be arrested). The Swiss have a chip on their shoulder, clearly.

Furthermore, there's enough doubt cast on Polanski's conviction that extradition is ridiculously unfair for the "sake of justice for all". I don't believe that it's in anyone's best interests to try him again with some show-piece trial where only California one-step-above-tort lawyers will benefit.

He PLEADED guilty to avoid time in jail, and when the judge reneged, he fled. The fact that he's famous means only that he'll get roasted alive, as well as the victim, and her family, etc etc. Just stop this madness and let the man go.

1) A resolution is pending in UN for over 60 years that people of Kashmir (a valley divided between Pakistan and India) be allowed to decide their own fate and USA is intentionally avoiding it, just because its corporations have a lot of interests in India. At least 50,000 people have been killed in Indian Kashmir in the last 20 years.

2) Israel attacks stone carrying Palestinians at its own free will and kills by the dozens and USA not only turs a blind eye to that, but also vetoes each and every UN Security counsel resolution demanding any action against Israel

3) North Korea openly develops Nukes and gets away with it. Iran has a dubious nuclear program and it may or may not be dveloping nukes and it is thratened day and night

He admitted to drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl. What does it matter how long ago it happened? It's one of the worst kinds of crimes and I hope he'll stand trial. It would only be what he deserves!

Of course he should face justice .. or should we set a statute of limitations on raping children? The way for him to get this behind him is deal with it directly, not try and escape from it. Had he dealt with this 20 years ago, all of this would be very ancient news – instead he has chosen to make it a part of his life and a part of the lives of many others.

If I were a judge in the 70s i would have jailed the girl's parents – what kind of parents allow their 13 year old child to pose naked repeatedly and without adult supervision (and to date and sleep with her 17 year old boyfriend). That is almost as shameful. Oh wait, maybe its the kind of parents who want to use their daughter as i way into hollywood. Disgracefull.

And while I dont agree with Mr. Polanski's actions, he did serve his time and was given a plea deal to spare the child a trial. Look into the judge's character, he was a shady shady attention hungry disgrace to the judiciary.

In Poland they just passed a law that child molesters will
be chemically castrated before leaving detention. And now
Poland lines up in defense of Mr Polanski? Can one person
be so brilliant that the rule of law does not apply to him?
That if you flee you will be rewarded for that?
What is wrong with this world. If extradited, nothing is sure. The Michael Jackson and the O.J. Simpson case do show that with just enough fame and cash you can escape American Justice as well.

And by the way, I certainly do not in any way condone having sex with under aged women, of course> But I do know one thing, as managing Director of a Parisian fashion label: young girls will not hesitate to lie about their age to land a job. I have often seen girls work the runway, appearing 18, when in fact they were only 12, which, in theory would make it illegal for the industry to employ them as such and which is something we do not want to do in any case. People calling Mr. a pedophile clearly need to wake to some of the harsh realities of our often deceiving world. That what he did was wrong, clearly! That a mistake like this could happen to many of us, particularly if you add to the scenario a good dose of drugs and booze – YOU BET!

The girl in the case..obviously now an adult..has gone on record as forgiving Polanski and wanting the whole media frenzy to leave her be. To drag this up again 30 years later, ( Statute of limitations anyone?) will be a huge disservice to a woman who does not want to be dragged into another media circus. Some over ambitious Federal marshall obviously has no concern for her or her family.

Olga, is it OK for an american to go to Liechtenstein, RAPE (in this case, 13 year old girls) come back ti the USA and not have a problem with the law?
By the way, this comment: "which have already enjoyed a flourishing legal culture when Nothern America was still home to roaming tribes of analphabets" does say everything about you...

Let us call this an outrage and another example of how twisted a world it is to live in.

I will point just a few reasons below who might serve the opposing camp as food for thought. First of all, let us go deep into the ground to where all this idea of personal rancor operates from - I understand this happened 30+ years ago - talk about holding a grudge! This can only happen in a society that inherited the Semite monotheistic Judaic Christian religions or Islamism – twin brothers by different names - the idea of evil vs. good and, we the sanctified selves will inflict punishment upon those who, in our opinion, are blemished, and make their lives miserable, until the day they die or we die first – we also have the option to pass along that anger to the next generations, how lovely. Just read the first five books of the old testament – complete annihilation of the enemy. That's what we inherited – good to read, you know?

Having said that, most of the religious teachers, have as higher teaching "do unto others as you would do unto yourself." Oh, let us think about that a minute. What is the sanctified hand of the state propagating here? Taking the father of two children, the husband of a wife, and bringing distress to a family - which is SUPPOSED to be the DNA of the whole Christian tradition. That, in itself, is a contradiction of the very values that have placed them in a sanctimonious holier-than-thou position. Again, every religion has its contradictions. Let us call it auto-immune disease.

Not to mention a tiny little detail. She has completely forgiven him and seeks dismissal of the case. How's that? Oh, nobody seemed to notice that. It seem that the ubiquitous hand of state is blind, deaf, and unforgiving, and wants to mettle in personal affairs that are done and dealt with. It would be the equivalent of someone insulting my father, being forgiven by him, and having me decide to make my life's mission to make that person's life miserable. It's the 'law', I say. What law? The law of relentless persecution? Nice way to live in this world.

To cap it off with a cherry on top, let us talk about human rights. United States can hold its opinion that 'Oh, we do not want Mr. Polanski here because we find him rather disagreeable over an act committed 30 years ago and we see no window for redemption.' Well, Mr. Polanski has the right to live in whatever country does not hold the same opinions – and this is what we call plurality, diversity, the learning curve of humankind, no one knows the truth, or have the final word on the truth, and the truth certainly resides outside the world of the state and the law. It's a gross violation of human rights. No one should ever be persecuted, taken from an airplane at night, specially a person who is about to receive a lifetime award and holds no threat to a society, and has done great contributions to the arts.

Now, speak of the devil, who is committing the greatest act of violence here? The sanctimonious ubiquitous hands of the state, which acts on a grave matter; with full knowledge, and deliberate and complete consent (the three requirements for a mortal sin) or a man who is just trying to live his life.

It has been dealt and done with. I think the state and people behind it should focus on better things. It’s over, busybodies. One of the problems in this world is that there are too many laws. It’s time to try a different model. As an American I would be ashamed. Didn’t he already suffer enough. What next? Attack his wife; children; burn his house to the ground? That’s what the Old Testament says, if skipping the message and reading it in a concrete way. No country can impose its will upon the world. It's over. Make the world a better place. Live on.

Your lead article is very misleading, even downright dishonest. You name the victim alongside a bevy of people urging clemency, and then conclude "There is clearly sympathy with Polanski from several quarters." It is true that the victim has asked for the case to be dismissed, but not due to any "sympathy with Polanski." She simply does not want to be the focus of prurient media attention. She stands by her account of what happened–a crime to which Polanski pled guilty. His crime was serious. Not only did he have sex with a minor. He drugged her first. This would be a serious crime even if the victim were not 13. Charges should not be dropped just because Polanski is a celebrity–nor is there any need to put the victim through a trial. He pled guilty then fled. Bring him back to the US and proceed directly to sentencing. Justice demands nothing less.

I cant believe people are defending this child molester.
It does not make it ok because it happened 30 years ago.
I dont care if it was 50 years ago.
He needs to be in jail.
He drugged and ass raped a 13 year old girl.
He was found guilty in a court of law.
Then took off when it was time to go to jail.

The best thing for him to do would be to come back right away and deal with it but his ego won't let him and now this little child rape thing will just get bigger and bigger and bigger. He is such an idiot!
Im sick of all these people defending him and it's laughable that France's politicians are so outraged. It's quite hilarious watching the French reaction. As if he is above it all. Do they really think it's ok that a 40 + man had anal sex with a 13 year old girl he had drugged?? Is that ok? Wouldn't any 40 plus man love to be in a jacuzzi with a naked 13 year old girl? hah - j/k but not really.
Funny because if he would have dealt with this issue either long ago or recently then people probably would have long forgotten it and the victim keeps making statements as to how she wants it all to go away. If he would deal with the issue then it would go away but now it will just get bigger than ever.
He fled like a rat and has actually not traveled to places because he was fearful of being apprehended. He has worked hard at not being caught and now he is. hahah - you got to laugh.

I guess it would be considered Karma that he gets nabbed while going somewhere to be lauded as a great man. hahha –Such a great man who buggers little girls in their butts ! Amazing.

And how come nobody has mentioned the fact that he was also taking topless pix of a 13 year old?? Isn't that child porn?

Leave the guy alone.
Don't you think that the U.S. have made enough blunders in Afganistan and in Irac without agravating our Eupopean friends even more.
The problem is that you are too self centered, and don't give a D.....
about others.

Once again these elite left wing liberals are out in force defending one of their own. If Polanski was one of those people without proper connections and does not pal with so-called film intellectuals, I doubt it if he would even be in the news.

why should popularity among Hollywood's elite allow a child rapist to roam free? I find it hard to believe that any parent would condone such horrific behavior because they appreciate or have respect for his movie making/directorial ability. Has this country become so morally lost that we have stopped protecting our children who will one day lead us in the future with little regard for inexcusable behavior or worse yet they will become so resentful and angry that they themselves will become monsters?

This great country needs to start setting the right moral and humanitarian examples or we will face a social dark ages unlike we have seen before. This is a black and white case with an admission of guilt for a very heinous crime. What is wrong with you people???? This is a sad day for anyone who cares about justice.

Why is this issue a debate????? I don´t understand. He simply has to pay for the crime he commited, and I don´t mean pay in cash. The circumstances under which he comitted such crime are awful. So now you can do whatever you want and fly away to france? why didn´t the french put him in jail?

If you read the transcript of his guilty plea, it will be sen that he admitted knowing the girl was 13 and also that the judge had not made any deals on sentencing. It's also clear that he later jumped bail to avoid doing any time.

So many of you are missing an important point. He is a fugitive with an outstanding warrant. Legal officials have an obligation to carry out the letter of the law. The appeal process is where mitigation can be consider at this point, so he therefore must stand before the court as anyone else must.

Polanski was judged guilty and made a plea agreement with the judge at the time; then fled when it was time to fulfill his commitment because he supposed 'feared the judge wouldn't honor the agreement'. Honor and trust work both ways; so he should be extradited to do the 'adult' thing and face the consequences of his actions so many years ago. Whether the charges are dropped or not, it's his responsibility to honor and keep his word; show trust in a system that he believed was trustworthy when they put away his wife's murderer for life.

The laws of America and Switzerland make no exceptions regarding the fame, or wealth of a person. Mr. Polanski raped the 13 year old girl and should accept the consequences. He has been on the run long enough.

The article in 'Time' has the quote ' Europeans are shocked and dismayed that an internationally acclaimed artist could be jailed for such an old offense." No no, that's not why we are shocked. We are shocked most of all because appearantly the meaning of the victim – for her the case is closed – has no value in the US. We are also shocked because the Swiss behaves as servants of the Americans and join the British in that behaviour. But well, both are not really part of Europe so this again shows why.

I assume that Mr. Polanski is a French citizen and not a USA citizen.
I also suspect that the Swiss(after digging up some obscure law) will not extradite him to the USA but rather to France. This whole thing was concocted to appease the USA IMO..

Hollywood is supposed to be full of all sorts of activists, but they let the old perv off because they like him. I'm so tired of hearing the excuse that she "looked older" than she was and that she somehow seduced him. What does that have to do with anything? Are there no boundaries when it comes to sex? Would everyone be so ready to forget had this been a young boy? He knew her age. The photos he took were child pornography. Yet he and his defenders seem to want to make him out to be the victim. Please! Poor Roman. He's had to spend all those years exiled in Europe making critically acclaimed films. Boo hoo.
He told Sharon Tate that he could never be faithful to her. He's always been a hornball. Makes me wonder if there are any more victims out there. If his name wasn't Roman Polanski, we wouldn't even be having this conversation. He'd be in jail.

How much is this costing the taxpayers? What a pathetic miscarriage of 'justice' considering the so-called victim does not want to be dragged back into the spotlight and rehash all this again. 32 years, come on... Does anyone really think this guy is a danger to society? As a taxpayer, I'd like to know what my Government has spent on this case – and held accountable.

Let him have a trial in one of the neutral countries in EU. US justice system is not good enough for this case, given that every prosecutor and/or judge wants to make a political or some sort of other carer for having tried a Roman Polanski.

Being a genius, wich he is, cannot be held as an argument in this case. People need to separate the artist from the offender. Just letting things go opens a dangerous precedent. The argument that it has happened long ago cannot be talen into consideration; Polanski himself has been a victim of horrendous crimes in Europe and in the US before comitting his own and the offenders still have the charges held against them. I believe most of us fans of his brilliant work would rather not have Nazi officials (most of them who these days represent absolutely no threat to society) and Charles Manson released under the argument that a lot of time has passed or that they are great on doing something other than killing people and perpetrating genocide.

I'm a father and I have a young daughter , probably some of you readers are fathers or mothers.If a man rape your young daughter ... probably we will like to kill the person .He has to pay for his acts.

This man already admitted to having sex with a 13 year old girl. Go read the court document online at the Smoking Gun. He admited to having anal, oral and vaginal sex with a 13 year. He agreed to a plea to deal to avoid the rape charges. It's up to the judge to finalize and agree to the plea deal between prosecution and defense. He ran because he thought the judge was going to renege on the plea deal. If so, he could have then faced a jury. He admitted to it and is guilty. He ran from being sentenced. He served 47 days for mental evaluation. Get it right people, this guy is guilty as sin. Europeans obviously love sex with 13 year old girls and boys. If France wants him free, we should also send them all of our pedophiles. Go to France where they let you have sex with their kids.

1. Had he not fled, this would not still be an open case in the District Attorney's office. And the DA is not at the beck and call of the criminal....

2. Polanski pled guilty .... why shouldn't he go back? Because it is 30 years ago. If Hitler surfaced would we dismiss charging him because... oh it happened sooooo long ago? What a silly argument for not making Polanski face the music.

3. In America, the victim cannot dismiss a "criminal complaint," only the state can bring criminal complaints and dismiss criminal complaints.

4. Statutory rape laws are meant to protect children. My guess is that many of the same folks who want Polanski to "get off" don't think other types of sexual abuse of kids is OK. For example, they probably don't also think the muslim custom of marrying off 12 year old girls to adult males is ok. Or, they might have some objections had Polanski rape a young boy instead of a girl.

This might be a good time for these folks to think about what type of society they really want.

5. Finally, everytime Polanski has not cooperated the woman's name and the ugliness of the event has a big fat public light shone on it which just impacts her and her family again. She will never ever really be able to move on with her life because of this guy's emotional and physical abuse..... and his refusal to bring the matter to an end -- with the government.

He should be held responsible for his actions no matter how many awards he has gotten. If this wasn't about some cultural figure whose arrest made headlines there would be no sympathy for him. I don't have an opinion on whether he should be put behind bars for a long time or not but i just don't think it's right that these big stars get away with what they've done unlike the most of us!

He did it and admitted it right? Well if there's no question about that then he should be sentenced to whatever he deserves.
But, as in any trial, the Prosecutor should be driven by the desire to achieve justice and not fame and "model sentence" only because he is Roman Polansky.
I ma sure there are hundreds if not thousands of cases just like this one where nobody goes out for 30 odd years doing what has been done with him, and I'm not defending HIM, so I have the reasonable doubt that this a sensation case once again.
If we are all equal in front of the law then the California authorities should ask themselves why he was even allowed to flee in the first place and why there are hundreds of direct flights from the US to "sexually critical" countries every day from the US and back with thousands of "sex tourists" that clearly go to those places to have undisturbed sex with minors and then go back home and live their middle class lives?
Roman Polansky is surely a very different man, his wife and unborn child were slughtered, he was born in a Jewish Getto in Poland and lost his mother to the Holocaust. Surely the guy had a crappy life until he made it big in the movies. Had he not fled he would have been another sad story in the mountains of sad stories fueled by racial hatred, desperation and poverty that the world is so full of.
This case should make us all really reflect on that instead of choosing to "slaughter" a 73 year old guy 30 years later when the US authorities had tens of occasions to do so 30, 25, or 20 years ago when they could have. He's been vacationing in Gstaad, Switzerland every year for 30 years, but somehow they only remembered now??
Also, I am so sorrow about the raped girl, I have a smal daughter and I'm disgusted, but the law should not allow anybody to reach a money agreement before the person is properly put under trial. Now many people think Polansky shouldn't be tried because he settled out of court.
That makes it all weird and hard to judge, as if the 40 year old woman now can even understand what happened to her 30 odd years ago??
Lets keep all this in mind....

Polanski should be punished but, why only now?
It is well known that for years now he has been in Switzerland very often on vacation, in Gstaad.
Why was he only arrested now?
I think Switzerland is trying to endear themselves to the U.S. again after the big Tax issue that has just been settled.

The Zürich Film Festival is not very old and is still struggling to grow.
It is a shame that a country that prides itself for its diplomacy and it's love of culture has basically "cut it's nose and spited it's face" with this gesture.
This could have been done more discretely and without harming the reputation of the Zürich Film Festival.
Surely, the vehemence with which this arrest took place also has to do with the reknown rivalry between the cities of Bern (capital) and Zürich.

I am citizen of Poland and I have to say that it doesn't matter who is Mr. Polanski, he did the crime, he admitted it and he ran away ( the reason to get him right now)) I can not stand people from my country are saying to set him free (especialy from his enviroment). It's madness because of polish -american relations. Nobody is objective atthis point. THERE IS NO PUNISHMENT WITHOUT THE CRIME!!!PS. Look at Michael Jackson case, he was not guilty and he had to take responsibility for the actions around him even it was discusting.

I like Roman Polanski's work but he shouldn't get off on charges of raping and drugging a 13 year old girl. The man is undoubtedly a gifted movie director, but that doesn't give him the right to evade the law on engaging in sex with a minor. A girl 13 is young and I don't care what Angelica Houston said about this girl over 30 years ago, she was only 13! If the girl were as "willing" as some people say, why did she have to be given alcohol and a drug so Polanski could have sex with her? Obviously because the girl did not give consent. Perhaps the judge in this case mishandled things, but that doesn't give Polanski the right/expectation of getting off without punishment. Some successful men think they are above the law.

What is the matter with you Europeans? Just because Polanski made a few good movies puts him above the law and gives him leave to rape children? The man is a pedophile and should be charged for it. Give your heads a shake, people!

I'm stunned that this is still up for debate. The man had sex with a thirteen year old girl! That's considered child molestation in this country! I wonder if Harrison Ford would still support Polanski if his grand daughter was raped by a man Polanski's age! Are actors in the "Hollywood in crowd" so desperate for a part in a Polanski movie that they condone child molestation? He committed a terrible crime! He should be punished.

It is sad that Polanski’s mother died in a concentration camp. We are all surprised that after 30 years the law is still after him but, Is the world surprised when they get an old Nazi man after 60 years because of his crimes? Should they be set free?

No one could be above laws! RP himself pleaded guilty – so he has to serve!! Who ever he may be – I am wondering how people are gathering for his walking free! What messages are being sent to the rest of the world who does not have the name and fame like Polanski – after having done so – still those big guys will stand for rule of Laws??

Every child has the right to be protected from predators, even if they are rich, white, male and famous. The case is 30 years old because the man who admitted to drugging and raping a child fled prosecution (getting a bad plea -bargain is NOT an excuse). The US justice system has the obligation to pursue this regardless of how the victim feels from the vantage point of being an adult (this is about children) and regardless of the cost.
The message needs to be sent: No adult may abuse or violate a child. Period.

Since when does the victim decide whether a convicted criminal should be punished or not? Having sex with anybody after DRUGGING him/her is RAPE. So whatever the age of the victim, rape is rape and a criminal offence. Polanski expected special treatment, and realizing he wasn't going to get it, ran away. The length of time passed is irrelevant, there is no statute of limitation on this. Being a talented director is no excuse for clemency. The man should be extradited, and I hope he gets jail term. Jackson was ACQUITTED on all charges and still suffered till his death, and continues to be villified even after his death.Extradite Polanski ASAP Oops! Resend after spelling correction.

Since 30 years have passed and the now grown-up victim wants to drop charges I think it is better for mankind to let Polanski continue making films instead of sitting in prison. Switzerland did not do any wrong; they had to extradite him since they have an agreement with US. I hope now the the court decides for his release to end this story. Polanskis childhood was ruined by the Nazis, his family life was ruined by the Manson family and this sentence has cast a shadow on his mature life . I hope he will be able to enjoy his old age.

Bring him back. Send the "Dog the Bounty Hunter" with crew and cameras rolling to bring the felon back for sentencing. Dog brought back that scum Andrew Luster so he knows how to get it done. No tears lost for Polanski. He's a child molester and put in the same cell as Luster.

I am disgusted that the question even has to be asked. It appears that some in the media and Hollywood are OK with this man's behavior. I am as liberal as they come, but come on. He pled guilty raping a 13 year old girl and fled. There is nothing that he has done in his life of making money that will erase that fact. We need to hold him accountable.

No man is to say what should be done....but really, when both the " victim " and an old man, with such life events have come to terms with one another, what would a conviction bring? Justice ?>.Maybe,but a blind justice ,the kind that the society would not benefit from...think about it. Common sense should prevail .

Hopefully ,he will be released before unpleasant comparisons are brought to the table...LEt us not forget that OJ Simpson walked away-can we even compare the two? NO,because POlansky was wrong in his actions ,but he is not a criminal and should not be treated as such.

He's a convicted child rapist. Why would this question even be asked? I haven't read all the responses yet, but i sure hope no one answered NO to it. Obviously, anyone who does answer NO to this question is either a child rapist or an idiot. I dont care how much money it cost. He has been laughing at the USA...the victim...and everyone else involved for years and years. I would love to see him get just one day in a real prison. That's all it would take for a child rapist to stop laughing.

Drugged and sodomized a 13 year old. This is the cold hard fact.
Then evading justice. 1 year or 30 years does not change anything. If anything it adds insult to injury.
Some people have mentioned that it was "a little mistake" many years ago. "Move on" you say. If it was my daughter who trusted this man, got drugged and then sodomized and then watched as this man evades justice for 30 years as he enjoys millions. Only to be protected by French pedophile loving governments like the French.. I would be demanding justice. If this man is pardoned the WORLD Justice system will suffer.
Defend Polanski and you defend Pedophiles getting away with it. Period.

Under a plea bargain with an unscrupulous judge at the time, Roman Polanski was advised to plead guilty under a settlement approved by the judge. The judge reneged on the settlement agreement. So if you Roman Polanski is to be put back on trial, it is only fair that an all American, Jack Nicholson, a co-conspirator in this matter, be also put back on trial. Jack, in the grand American tradition, previously pleaded not guilty (and received a slap on the wrist as punishment).

He confessed, was convicted of a felony and fled the US before sentencing.

I feel the need to refresh the memory of many who think that he should be simply forgiven because he is a Great Man ™:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal..."

This is the sacred foundation on which the United States was founded; the pillar of democracy that freed France; ALL men, whether presidents or street sweepers are equal in the eyes of the Law.

Heck, I might be more sympathetic to him if he had returned to the US of his own free will in order to face the courts, but he has chosen to remain at large, living free and continuing his chosen trade, earning wealth and fame while thumbing his nose at the authorities.

Some argue that he "has been punished enough". How? The time he spent in prison prior to trial would have been taken into account at sentencing, the money he paid the victim was not part of any criminal settlement and any argument that he was under some kind of self-imposed "house arrest" is belied by his complete freedom to travel the whole of France and his frequent travels to other countries.

Due process must be served. If it is not, then it seems that these truths are not as self-evident as we thought.

My jewish friend thinks The Pianist is an artistic treasure for mankind.

Many, like her, believe that Polanski creates artistic treasures for mankind. One thing for sure for them is that, if Polanski is sentenced to life in prizon, then no more artistic treasures for mankind will be produced by him.

Most people should get their facts straight. He already did more time than he should have. The trail was done by a corrupt judge and was totally unfair to him. He pleaded guilty as a part of a deal which the judge all of a sudden decided to not accept. This forced Polanski to flea US, a country where he could not get a fair trail. The plea deal called for Polanski not to do any time... he did get 42days and was to serve extra with judge bending rules...

Also of note, is the fact that if US case was so strong they could have asked, as permitted by France – US treaty, to have him tried in France on US charges. US didn't follow, maybe b/c the DA in the case wanted Polanski to be set free as part of the deal that included guilty plea.

As for all Americans reading this, what do you do with a rich guy that for a change is treated unfairly in the US? If he is to be re-tried for his crime then it should happen not in US, since US clearly had tainted justice. Now even if this was permitted and re-done, he would be set free since even the victim would be for him going free.

In short, US has no case. I hope that when he is actually extradited to US the judge in LA will just throw the whole thing out. If that happens and DA has sense to not try to go for another trail the whole thing will end as it should have so long ago.

It's 30 years ago, Polanski is 76 years old, and the now-adult victim wants him pardoned. I'm having a very difficult time understanding how "justice" is served by punshing him. But then the American "justice" system is more about punishment than rehabilitation. I guess that's the answer. I hope that the authorities come to their senses. This is really embarrassing for the US.

Absolutely he should be extradicted and sentenced for this crime to which he pled guilty. he should also be prosecuted for unlawful flight. The legal system's legitimacy required that everyone be treated equally...even Academy Award winners, and even victims of Charles Manson.

I am frankly astonished that there is any question about this, and dismayed that there is such a large constituency willing to whitewash a horrendous case of child sexual abuse. The got her drunk. He fed her illegal drugs. He raped her multiple times (I don't care, by the way, if he thought she was older...how does THAT excuse this conduct?). How can anyone justify this? This is not just against the victim, it's against the society (which is why the victim's wish to drop the charges is irrelevant). How can we ever purport to protect little girls from sexual predators is we (actually not "we" because I will have nothing to do with it)...I mean "you" choose to let him go?

I checked - child rape and bailjumping are illegal in Liechtenstein, too. So much for "crazy ideas". The suggestion that it takes five hundred years to form a "real" culture is totally at variance with modern anthropological/sociological consensus. Any description of Native American (10,000plus yr-old) culture as it has been portrayed here is at variance with common norms of respect and decency and should be recognized for the racist nonsense it obviously is. As for North America being as violent as the undeveloped world, that is not statitically supportable, and I would remind you of that old European tradition of periodically slaughtering millions of fellow Europeans over religious and ideological differences. That Mr. Polanski is himself the victim of that very violence is an extenuation to be considered by a sentencing judge; it is not a licence. If Mr. Polanski were a haberdasher from Antwerp he would be in prison now. Celebrity, regardless of the talent that supports it, is no argument for felony.

First: Anjelica Huston, who was present in the house on the evening, has expressed her views that anyone could easily have believed the girl was as old as twenty five.

Secondly: The girl in question, Samantha Geimer, has herself said that she wants the world to move on and that the only reason this event causes her any pain at all is because every time the public is reminded of it she becomes the center of unwanted attention. She has even filed to have the charges against him dismissed.

Thirdly: There is extensive evidence that the original judge was guilty of legal misconduct, a view strengthened by Judge Espinoza, who has said that he himself believes there is a strong possibility that the trial was woefully mishandled.

All of this information is EASILY available from a wide variety of sources – all you have to do is google Polanski and actually read what comes up as opposed to skim over it. This is something that has turned in to nothing short of a woefully misguided witch hunt. I am American and deeply love my country, but we can't exactly say we stand for justice if we are ignoring the wishes of EVERYONE involved in the case – the judge, defendant, victim, the lawyers – it's ridiculous. The only people who want him arrested are people who have nothing whatsoever to do with what happened. We need to deal with real problems, not persecute someone unnecessarily just because a very vocal and aggressive minority will feel better. That's not justice – it's a lynching.

What is wrong with you out there who think time should have anything to do with a serious crime. He RAPED a 13 year old child. I will say it again, he RAPED a 13 year old. So what if it is political. That is not important. Also, so what if the victim does not want to see action. If someone shoots a person in the head and the person forgives the shooter should he be let go free? Come on, just because this guy is a millionaire entertainer he should go free is stupid.

I hope you out there who think he should go free do not have children. If you do would you say the same if he raped your child?

Eric – says only he and the victim know what happened. Not true, he admitted to rape. Lock his butt up.

Damn right he should be sent back to the US and way to go Switzerland standing up for victims in this way. I just think it's too bad the sentences under which he'll be prosecuted are far less severe than those of today. Guess that's good news, at least today we no longer accept it and sweep it under the rug. Such a shocker to see France's position of support....

Heck yeah he should be extradited!!! He drugged a little girl and then raped her. That scumbag really deserves the death penalty!!
I’m shocked that the Poles would support this monster. As for the french people or their government officials who are supporting this child rapist because his life has been so difficult…I’m not shocked whatsoever. After all, these are the same losers who always welcome woody allen to their country as if he’s an icon instead of a dirt bag.
woody allen is no better than polanski in his attraction to children; after all, he married the girl Mia Farrow had adopted at the age of six. He should have looked at that child as his step-daughter since he had been shacking up with her mother for 12 years; but no, he groomed her just like any other ungodly child molester does. I feel like throwing up!!! Obviously the judge did too because allen is denied from ever having visitation with his own minor children again! Thank God Almighty!!
I am sickened by the fact that actors like harrison ford and adrian brody are willing to take their sorry rear-ends to france to work with such a creep after what he has done to a child!! And what kills me, people like ford has children. And this goes for polanski's stupid wife as well. Were you really that desperate for a man??? Yuck!!
American movie directors: Let it be known that any of you who publicly come out in favor of letting this bastard escape justice again will lose me as a ticket-buying fan, forever!
Finally, just because 30 years has passed, his wife was murdered, and he survived the holocaust does not give polanski license to break the laws of God and man!
Everyone’s concern should be for the girl, now woman who had her childhood stolen from her! It’s horrible events like these that occur at such a young age that make life truly difficult to endure!!!

In most cases I would say that he should be accountable, however , because the victim has said that he should go free and due to the fact that he was probably under much distress from losing his mother in Aschwitz and having his wife and unborn baby murdered in such a horrid manner – I would say that he has probably paid for this crime many times over. Set him free and let him enjoy the last part of his life.

His artistry that Hollywood supporters want to celebrate does not change that he, as a 43 year old, plied a 13 year old with drugs, then sexually abused and sodomized her. Celebrity or not, He is a convicted person, who chose to run from accountability. To allow him to escape accountability just because he's weathly or a good film maker or because he managed to hide from the courts for 30 years makes no sense. That his victim wants nothing further done is only part of the issue. He was properly convicted and owes it to all citizens to accept an appropriate sentence. Shame on his celebrity pals for their failure to insist he accept responsibility for this hideous kind of child sexual abuse.

Just a FYI (for various previous posters), European/US extradition arrangements are somewhat complicated and flexible in usage, dependant on Country. France would not extradite Polanski as "he is a French citizen" (Roman was born in France, to Polish parents and has dual French/Polish citizenship) – the UK (which he has also avoided since 78) most definitely would have. For Americans who find the imbalance of Europe-wide standards over this odd, consider the UK-US Extradition Treaty of 2003, this basically states that UK citizens can be shipped for trial to the US upon simple request to do so, whilst the reverse requires *evidence* (or the Constitutions ‘probable cause’). In practice, this means that the UK Govt. could (and would) happily extradite a mentally-ill UK citizen for "hacking US Computers" (from UK soil), but thats another story.

That opinion on the subject of Polanski, his crime, arrest and possible extradition appears split is inarguable, there remain, however, a few known facts on which everyone should at least base their own decision first.

(1.) Romans life has been far from simple. Having your parents removed before your own eyes and executed by the Nazis as an 8 year old, then having your 8-month pregnant wife murdered in abjectly vile and all-to-public circumstances by Manson & Co. are factors that may well lead to some abnormal behaviour (to say the least) in the best of us.

(2.) He has served time (42 days to date in the US + current imprisonment in Switzerland) for this crime and there were inarguably irregularities in the handling of the case by the original judge, or "substantial misconduct" as later acknowledged by the LA Courts. The prosecuting DA described the proceedings as "a sham.." and the "victims" own lawyer agreed that fleeing the US (and Judge Rittenband) was indeed probably Polanskis most sensible option at the time.

(3.) He has never denied the act. Whether or not the act was "consensual" in common terms appears debatable, it is, however, legally defined as "Rape" by statute (and the girls status as a Minor) regardless. That neither the "victim" (or her parents) could be described as entirely blameless in the matter is unquestionable. Polanski has recompensed the "victim" to her entire satisfaction, that she herself wishes the matter would simply be brought to an end is not only an apparent inconvienence for the LA DA, but one which may also shed a little light upon the exact nature of the original event.

(4.) The timing of the arrest is odd, to say the least – if the Swiss are indeed so desperate to serve the overseas interests of US Justice, why did they not simply arrest him on one of the numerous occasions whereby he was previously resident in the country, rather than their (presumably deliberate) very public apprehension on the eve of an awards ceremony? The statement regards the "request for arrest.." leaves one wondering if the LA DAs Dept. have indeed seriously spent the last 30 years scanning the Internet in a desperate search for Polanskis Appointments Calendar, a situation whereby one marvels that Manson was ever caught at all.

(5.) Roman Polanski has provided, from the Horrors of his own life, thought, enjoyment and indeed Art for those of us who cannot begin to comprehend the personal emotional turmoil he has endured – for that, I thank him, and for Art, given the circumstances, one can forgive a single 30 year old misdemeanour.

Roman Polanski has been pursued, figuratively and literally, from the cradle to near grave for over three quarters of a century now, this by a level of both demon and persistency from which most of us remain in blissfull ignorance. From the Nazis to The Manson Family to the LA DAs Office – when does it all stop? Exactly when is "Justice" still being served here? Enough is enough, let us leave Roman to whatever little Peace he may have reamining already, Please.

Roman Polanski is 76, in prison, and facing (yet another) media circus US trial, all in the interests of a publicity-hungry US DA. Roman, our thoughts are with you, may commonsense (when not "Justice") finally prevail.

There is no question of guilt or innocence. He pled guilty to a lesser charge, having admitted the more serious one. A 43 year old man having sex with a 13 year old girl whom he has drugged into a stupor isn't a minor crime. It's not some quaint american hang-up.

If it is "no big deal" how about we have a man three times his size drug him, and rape him? Would that be similarly "no big deal?"

yes he should be brought back to face chages. It seems that if we allow Mr. Pollenski free because he decided to run and he paid the victim off during that time only sends a terrible message.
He is above the law which he decided to aviod. What a disgraceful message this sends, money and the arts control the outcome every time.

Your first paragraph: Oh, we had a culture for more than 500 years, but apparently Native America doesn't apply to your "civilized" (hah!) European standards. But what does that even have to do with this? And crazy laws? You mean laws that protect children?!

Your second paragraph: We're talking about a GROWN MAN RAPING A CHILD. Clinton and Lewinski were two consenting adults, each conscious of the consequences of their actions! The child who Polanski raped was literally unconscious! And once again, you are bringing up irrelevant issues: Gun violence and rape are not the same things!

Your third paragraph: We have decided as an international body (the United Nations) with our “antiquated law system” that children are to be protected across ALL borders. And I would think that with you being a woman, you would understand that. *sigh* Just because most Native Americans didn’t have alphabet systems for many years doesn’t mean they were unintelligent or didn’t have their own laws, even though current American laws are based on British Common Law.

I want to know why the Los Angeles DA is WASTING MY TAX DOLLARS WHEN WE ARE BROKE??? Our courts are shut down periodically due to budget cuts and these people want to spend a lot of money to pursue a legal case that has essentially been settled long ago.

The victim is not interested in seeking more penalties. She's moved on and has already received restitution.

What is the DA's point? It sure isn't about justice. And the DA's office is WASTING MONEY WE DON'T HAVE.

The idea that he should have been tried in France does not hold water; the trial was already over: he plead guilty; the only thing left to do was the sentencing.

There is nothing wrong with admiring the work of the man; without a doubt he is one of the great filmakers of our age and his works will still be admired long after we have all turned to dust. HOWEVER, that is not a reason to treat him any differently.

A lot of people say "it was a little mistake long ago". I seriously wonder if they would feel the same way if it were their 13-year old daughter who was drugged and raped. Would they feel the same way if it were, say, someone of the caliber of someone like Tom Cruise or Stephen Spielberg (both artists I admire, BTW, used here for illustrative purposes only) or if it were someone like Joey the Plumber, Johnny the guy from down the street or Jimmy the burger-flipper.

Would it still be considered "a little mistake that should be forgiven"?

If he had been sentenced he would have had grounds for an appeal. Even without it he would have been out a long time ago. But he didn't stick around for that; he ran and flaunted his freedom for thirty years. Just fifty minutes ago CNN reported his intention to fight the extradition! This is not the act of a person showing remorse for his acts.

For Americans and Europeans on either side of “the pond” who support this pedophile polanski: A NORMAL PERSON would think that the case of the Austrian wolfgang priklopil who kept his victim locked in a basement for 8 years, American Jaycee Lee who was kept prisoner for 18 years, the Austrian, U.K., and Australian incest-rapists (trusted dads- not!), the cases of perverts who have been caught traveling around the world to have sex with children, as well as the busting up of child pornography rings in Belgium, Germany, Australia, and the United States SHOULD SICKEN ALL OF YOU.

These cases should serve to highlight the fact that our children need and deserve our protection. In other words, justice delayed should not be justice denied – no matter how “esteemed” the perpetrator or how long ago the MORAL OFFENSE /CRIME!!!!!!

I would also like to know what these sick women who were married to these men were thinking; especially polanski’s wife since she married him, knowing what he had done! Wasn’t she afraid for her own children??!!

I appreciate the Swiss government for honoring its treaty with the U.S. in extraditing such an evil man!

Hollywood should be ashamed and ridiculed for recognizing a criminal for any achievement. Roman Polanski is a criminal and should be treated like one. What does this teach other criminals and what does it say about Americans claiming as civilized nation. Any French or Polish Artists who support Polanski, this is what I have to say to them. I hope your daughter or grand daughter gets rapped by an adult and I then would like to see how you would react. If Polanski comes to LA, I will personally be present in his trial and will support the maximum sentencing for this Human Garbage.

Good for you Tracy. You took the word out of my mouth. I feel exactly the same way, Shame on anyone that supports this monster. I have stopped going to the movies since the day I learned that Polanski the child rapist was being honored for his work. I would volunteer to do what it takes to bring this rapist back. His family being a victim to the Holocaust is not a LICENSE TO RAPE. I want everyone in the entertainment industry to know that we will not stand for this kind of injustice, I don't care who it is. Next time, I will be protesting this during the Oscar awards. Anyone that likes to join us, you can contact me on my email and we can protest this together.
vkmd@sbcglobal.net

It is kind of tragicomic how people seem to get all ruffled up and froth indignation at "this child molester" that "drugged then raped" a "poor child".

How do they KNOW these terms do apply in this case? Was he indeed the monster they depict in imagination? Were they there and saw what happened exactly? Was the girl truly a "poor child" that somehow happened to be at a naked photo-shoot for aspiring starlets in a Hollywood mansion?

Your Legal Analyst yesterday mentioned that the reason Mr Polanski fled to France was that the legal age of consent at that time in France was 13. This would have therefore rendered the extradition impossible, as there would be no reciprocity in the law.
This is untrue.
A law was passed on July 2nd 1945 (ordinance n°45-1472, J.O. published July 4th1945) for a legal age of consent of 15.

I have boycotted all work by Roman Polanski, since I learned of his conviction, for raping a 13 year old girl, some 30 years ago.

The French government's attitude, toward the rape and sodomization has disgusted me, as usual. I was, however, surprised by Debra Winger's response. Perhaps, in her world, sodomization of children is no big deal ! Who knows? However, in my world children are to be protected, at all costs. His, is one of the worst crimes a man can commit.

I can feel nothing more than the basest emnity for a man such as Polanski. He is no better than the lowest of animals, no matter his achievments before or since. He has shown his predator's nature to the world and is no better than any other pedophile.

This man should be extradited and made to pay, as any other criminal would be. However, I am NOT naive enough to really believe that he will ever pay for his crimes.

@Saad "I must say, USA’s legal syatem (sic) is seriously screwed up and no wonder the world considers Americans to be idiots."

And I must say you are a complete idiot. You link the California District Attorney's office with events in India and say "see"? How stupid can one person be? Indian, Israel, North Korea, Iraq etc aren't issues before a California court. You just want them to be so you can rant and vent. On the other hand if, as you wish, Polanski is left alone the US can justify any and all international actions?

First of all the US and Switzerland have an extradition treaty. Don't like it? Then annul the treaty from both sides. Oh, perhaps the US will ask for the accused (not convicted) Nazi back because he lived so long in the US without problems. The Swiss arrested Polanski, because they had concrete information of his travel plans. The Swiss justice Minister said so yesterday.

The child victim cannot decide to drop the case. A rapist is a danger to society as a whole.

US has a high prison population. Yes, perhaps due to demographics and enforcement. How does the prison population overturn Polanski's conviction?

@ Rick. You have got to be making a joke and must be a miserable person. Your argument says if the people (or US) are not perfect then no laws can be enforced? Polanski is just one case of thousands, but this one involves a famous person. In California's legal system running away from a conviction to France does not constitute restitution nor punishment. Polanski must appear in court. Perhaps he will be let off, but the courts must decide.

Many here rant about and hate the US. There is a better forum for you. Go tho the BBC website to a place called "Have Your Say". The HYS forum is set up specifically for anti-Americanism. HYS is heavily censored to favor anti-American comments even allowing death threats to US presidents. Check it out, you'll love it.

Could you good hearted people contribute any money you could spare to help my friend from the Philippines. Everything they owned was lost. He made this blog for your donations. Please take time to look at the pictures. And also kindly tell your friends to give as well. Thank you all.

I am outraged at the film industry for defending roman polanski when he himself pleaded guilty to the charges. It is considered statutory rape for a reason, because when you are 13-years old and given drugs and alcohol by a famous director, you can hardly be expected to give consent. He should not be above the law, just because he is a person with friends in high places and celebrity connections. It's true that he has had a sad childhood, but that does not absolve him from his actions. I believe the U.S government is doing the right thing and that France President Sarkozy should be ashamed of himself for even suggesting that Polanski should not pay for his crimes because he is an artist. France is founded on the bourgeois ideals the last time I check not elitism. No one should be above the law.

The guy should not get away with raping a 13 year old girl, just because he makes movies. How would any of you feel if it was your 13 year old daughter. I would go to the ends of the earth to see the person who did this to my child pay for his actions, no matter if it was 30 years or 50 years. No one should ever get away with hurting a Child. EVER.

Roman Polanski is a criminal pedophile and rapist who should be brought to justice regardless of his fame & fortune for raping a 13 year old child. How many other children have been his victims?
Under criminal law the same justice applies to all criminals.
Hilda Umpierre
Madrid

For all of you asking why this is still an issue, the reason is the pathetic "we're all victims" mentality that so many Americans wallow in. Until each and every one of you baying for Polanski's blood goes down to your local police station to turn yourself in for the 20 times you broke the speed limit this week but didn't get caught, I don't want to hear it. His may be a far greater crime, but the principal is exactly the same. There is ONE victim here, and she wants it dropped so she can live her life in peace. DROP IT!!! The one who should be going to jail is the DA.

No boby is above the law, he accepted his crime, he did something terrible and he has to pay for it; this is not about revenge, she was a chield and he knew it, he must pay for it. How is the family of the girl?, just because he is famous he can go free? no way, he is just another person who made a mistake and should be punished!.

It is beyond ridiculous that there is a question as to the appropriateness of continuing to pursue Mr. Polanski. He fled the jurisdiction immediately prior to sentencing and has evaded capture ever since. He has not served his time for his underlying offense nor has there been an accounting for the additional crime he committed in fleeing the country to frustrate the administration of justice. Passion aside, this is an open matter, and ought to remain so until he is captured, sentenced and ultimately discharged post-sentence.

But for those who need passion, and for those who think Mr. Polanski's contributions to art are somehow relevant to the adjudication of his criminal behavior, let's be clear, the man drugged and raped a young child. Full stop. There can be neither excuse nor mitigation for such conduct. And rather than fussing about his art, perhaps you would do well to consider the suffering and trauma that the violated child endured and will endure throughout her life. I should be very glad to see Mr. Polanski spend the rest of his life in jail or a high-security psychiatric facility.

Rapists are violent predators, no matter their erudition or artistic creativity. They ought to be treated accordingly.

The victim would not have been harassed by the media or caught up in legal proceedings if a 43 man had not DRUGGED and RAPED her, which would have been a crime even if she weren't 13 years old at the time. Place the blame and accountability where it belongs. Polanski ruined her life. He violated the law by giving controlled and illegal substances to a minor, committing rape and sodomy, and by evading the law. If he were not a celebrity, he'd have gone to jail. Shame on those in Hollywood who believe their creativity somehow places them above the law. And, given the circumstances, a character reference by Woody Allen is laughable.

what the victim wants is immaterial, apologies don't cut it with rape, and the only point is respecting a rule of law. He broke the law, morally and legally – and confession doesn't absolve you. He needed to be man enough to face his judgement. and he wasn't. He ruined his own life. Let him pay for it now.

If justice and the law is a waxed nose, if society is indifferent to child molestation (it's only between the victim & offender), if defending the rule of law is not so important as to require going after fugitives then what he did 30 years ago doesn't matter.

Maybe Polanski was just looking for a good time, and well, sometimes girls may say no when they really mean yes.

The court didn't commit the crime, the press didn't commit the crime, Polanski committed the crime. The court has a responsibility to uphold the law passed by the legislature.

Shame on Roman Polanski. He has fled his conviction after having pleaded guilty, that itself is another crime and has nothing to do with the girl forgiving him for the original crime. The second crime is enough to catch him and put him on trial again.

Would an ordinary person be forgiven if he runs away from law and escapes his punishment? He should be extradited at any cost.

No, it is nonsense due to the fact it happened so many years ago plus it was consensual sex anyway......Any european girl over fourteen is a dangerous temptation! Gotta be really tough to avoid them...
PS: Before someone say anyrhing, I don´t care if she was underage or not. He´s polish. Americans are too strict when it comes to sex.

What the hell is this even being debated for? The girl he raped and sodomised is now a middle aged woman and either doesn’t want to relieve the period or was so infatuated with him that she doesn’t want to see him get into trouble for raping her. Perhaps it should be made legal as long as all 13 year old girls ‘consent’ to being sodomised….?"

Okay Andre, so if your 13 y/o daughter that I drugged and had intercourse with is "okay" with it, then you won't mind? It doesn't matter whos standing up for him or who he is or what he accomplished or how the judge messed up his trial, fact of the matter is he had sex with a 13 y/o, which is against the law in ANY civilized culture, therefore needs to face the music. If he believes he had an unfair trial the first time, then trial it again and get himself ready for his prison roommate.

In Switzerland he would get 6 months probation. In the USA they want to put a 76 Year old man 4 years in prison for a crime he never did again and will never do again. Prison sentences are not revenge but should help to prevent the crime to be done again. I wonder where the state attorney takes the time with uncounted murderers on the loose in the USA. Why diden't they arrest the terrorist Moammar Gadhafi ???

Drop the charges...he has suffered enough just through his conscience alone... but some egocentric judge whose on a power trip to gain fame should be wise enough to back off this one. Polanski has done fantastic work through his career and should be allowed to continue unmolested. And make no bones about it, some 13 year old girls dolled up can come across as full blow women and not timid little toddlers. Even A.Huston acknowledges this...so drop this nonsense and let it pass. We're not talking of a criminal here but a great artist with great compassion and imagination. Drop it!!!

I just read on CNN that Woody Allen is featuring prominently amongst a (...notably MALE...) cadre of Hollywood producrers, who believe, and are currently valiantly fighting to prevent CHILD RAPIST Roman Polanski from being punished, however long down the line, for his CRIME.

The nerve of Woody Allen!

If this was not so Pathetic, Sick and Criminal it would be funny. Imagine that Woody Allen....the man who SLEPT WITH HIS OWN ADOPTED DAUGHTER, THEN HAD TO MARRY HER TO SAVE-FACE IN HOLLYWOOD... is loudly championing CHILD-RAPIST Roman Polanski's EQUALLY CRIMINAL CAUSE!

The Sages got it wrong: it is CRIMINALITY – not MISERY, that loves company!

He should be extradited and tried for a crime much worse than a sex crime – that of stupidity. He plead guilty and then traveled to a country with an extradition agreement, on second thought save the time and money of a trial. He should locked up to protect himself from himself after all we lock people up to prevent suicide. Right? Jes Sayn

Polanski should absolutely be extradited. He needs to do the time. He ran away and made a life for himself in another country, he thumbed his nose at the US. He needs to be accountable for what he did.

Oh, we are talking about Polanski. Well that is different. Noah Cross is a powerful, well-connected man who raped a minor and avoids justice by owning the police.

Polanski, however, is a powerful, well-connected man who raped a minor and avoids justice by owning the (French) police.

Well, at least, Noah Cross was a creation of the brilliant Polanski, and Polanski wants us to dislike him, and so we should. Polanski, in contrast, does not want us to dislike him (that would be unhealthy), and so we shouldn't!

This scumbag needs to go to jail. He committed a terrible crime – raping a minor. He plead guilty. Game over. Who cares if it was 1 month ago, 1 year ago, or 50 years ago? He needs to serve his time. You can't run away from justice. For all you people who think he should get off scott-free, would you be so understanding if he raped your child or grandchild?

Wake up people! This case is over. Roman Polanski plead GUILTY to raping a 13 year old. There is no case to try. He has been a fugitive for the last 31 years. He needs to go to jail. Who cares if he is 76, or if he raped somone 1 month ago, 10 years ago. or 50 years ago. He admitted his guilt and needs to serve his time.

There is no fear of God today in this world. The truth is rejected especially if the person speaking the truth is poor. The best laws ever in this world were the Law of Moses in the Bible. An eye for an eye. If you don't want to be hurt then hurt no body. If you are insane or a young person underage you can be forgiven, but if you are an adult and commit crime you are supposed to be punish according to the law of the land, but unfortunately, today only the poor are punish and the rich escape unpunished all over the world. To me I look at a criminal as a devil and not a human being that is created in the image of God. If you are actually a human being, created in the image of God, you should have pity to mankind, but demons are criminals and kill with smiles and commit heinous crimes without any feeling.

I have lived in 16 countries and on 5 continents in this world and I must say that I am shocked to see that there is ANYONE who would defend a convicted CHILD sex offender. Those of you who admonish the US judicial system or the Swiss for assisting......imagine it was your 13 year old daughter that he DRUGGED and RAPED. These facts are not in dispute. HE ADMITTED TO IT. Now imagine this guy flees to a country that is supposedly a friendly and morally "respected". I have trouble even saying that about a country that would harbor a convicted RAPIST. Then proceeds to make millions. I know this man has endured personal tragedy, but that is no excuse for letting him go. Additionally, there was one comment

"Switzerland should NEVER have given in to pressure from the US to arrest a highly acclaimed film director only because some former British territories (which, after all, have been independent only for about 233 years, while it takes at least 500 years for any country to build a decent culture !!!) have some crazy laws about sexuality."

If having sex with a child is a crazy law, why is it illegal in almost EVERY civilized culture? Oh and by the way, if you are from Liechtenstein, the land you are on has a history dating far back, but your country has a constitution that is younger than the United States, so you might want to think about the wording you choose before spouting off at the mouth.

I dont know how anyone with a 13 year old daughter could say that this man should be allowed to go free. I do not care if he is the Pope. He did something wrong to a child. Just because he has money, is famous, and can travel to get away he believes he can pull strings and push this under a rug. No, not only should he pay for his crimes but a big ( BIG) example should be made of him. I do not care what his motives, his way of thinking, or anything that he has to say was. she was a child and did not know better and he did. And carma shame on all of those that back him.

...you earthlings are such a vicious lot – you clearly haven't evolved very far from the days when anyone with a broken bone would be savagely attached as though a pack of hyenas were on the rampage.. Sometimes someone makes a misjudgement and oversteps the mark, but this is part of the learning procedure. We're not talking of a gruesome murder here or some other bloody crime. As I said before, some girls mature earlier than others and this can be very confusing for the male of the species, especially appears older AND is keen also keen. Think back just 200 years to central Europe when 12 and 13 year olds wed and had children. Or maybe go back 7000 years before that again, and so on. This misjudgement rather than a crime I prefer to say on Polanskis part, is media and ego hype that needs to be taken in context. Just forget this ridiculous thing and lets move on.

You are probably right with my understanding of the law. I don't know the exact names of the Public Prosecutors or the District Attorneys, partly becasue I do not spend hundreds of hours watching Crimi-TV from Hollywood. However, in the 30 years since I left Connecticut where I was born, I have not forgotton that the State is responsible for prosecution of alleged crimes. My only valid point is that Mr. Polanski was convicted. If it was fair or unfair seems to me to be outside of the scope of the question of extradition. John, please focus on the issues at hand. I sense you do not like the way some Public Prosecutors function in America. If you have a problem, you can get involved and perhaps change the system. After all the United States lives (imperfectly maybe) under the rule of law. You should try to avoid serving the argument of letting Polanski go free simply to make the point you are not happy with the American justice system. I am not happy with everything with the swiss justice system either. But in this case it seems that the correct thing is being done. It is by no means certain Mr. Polanski will be extradited becasue he will have his "due process" here too. Don't lecture me about my ignorance of American law if you are not prepared to be lectured about your ignorance in American law too. My point was correct and your argument about the Public Proscecutor is a distraction from the issues.

It seems there are an awful lot of people angry with America, and use this storey and other arguments as a means of beating up Americans / American society in general.

Many people are angry at Switzerland too. Some think we are losing our sovreignty to America. That we should not be subservient to the overbearing grandstandig Americans. Others think we are simply arbitrary or draconian with our views on sexuality. Then of course inconsistency of application leads also to suggestions of hypocracy.

The Swiss Government has reciprocal contracts for the delivery of fugitives with outstanding arrest warrents from a number of countries. It works in the interests of the justice system of both countries who are signatories to such agreements.

That is why Mr. Polanski was arrested and is being held for pending possible extradition. We as swiss people have a contractual obligation to do this. Given the known issues of the case there is no moral or ethical issue here.

If Mr. Polanski were a fugitive from Swiss justice living in the United States the swiss would expect that he be delivered by American authorities back to Switzerland. I have enough faith in both systems that this would in fact happen, although as we have seen, justice can take a very, very long time sometimes.

I am amazed at the level of interest on both sides of this argument. It would be great if more europeans and Americans could share in this manner, without offending each other while trading points of view.

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